Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has tipped Team India as favorites to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, which got underway on October 17 with the qualifying round.
The Virat Kohli-led Indian side will begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on October 24 in the Super 12s stage.
"World T20 will be the best opportunity for Virat Kohli to take India to a (title) win. He is a fantastic leader who leads by example. India are dominant in big tournaments and this will be a big opportunity for the team. Virat will surely take India to the World Cup T20 win this time. India have class players in T20Is. KL Rahul, Virat, Rishabh, Bumrah all can turn matches on their own," Engineer told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive chat.
Kohli is yet to win an ICC tournament as a captain but Engineer still hailed him as one of the best captains India has produced.
Notably, Kohli has already announced that he will step down as T20I captain after the showpiece tournament in UAE and Oman.
"Virat is fantastic. He is one of the best captains India has produced. His energy, plans, dominations, and execution cannot be matched. He fuels energy in the team. He is always hungry for runs and wins. That's his best quality. That’s what is taking the Indian team forward. Look at the fitness level of the team. It is just amazing," Engineer opined.
"Virat knows how to use his players in any situation. And he has got match-winners in the team. Bumrah and Pandya are two of the biggest match-winners in Virat's team. He is making his own team for the T20 World Cup," he added.
Team India have played 9 T20I series in the last couple of years and registered wins in 7 of them.
"Whenever India play against any team and in any format, they are favourites. They will enter the World T20 as top favourites. They are one of the best teams in the world. The way they are playing, they can definitely go on and win the T20 World Cup. I am sure Virat will lead India to the T20 World Cup win. India will be a dominant side in the tournament," Engineer said.
For the T20 World Cup 2021, Indian team is slotted in Group 2 alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and the two qualifiers from Round 1.
After facing Pakistan, India will play their group-stage match against New Zealand and Afghanistan on October 31 and November 3 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively while their games against the two qualifiers will be held in Dubai on November 5 and November 8.
(With TOI inputs)
