It's been a decade since Team India last won an ICC tournament. After MS Dhoni led the side to a Champions Trophy triumph in 2013, India have lost as many as four ICC event finals and bowed out in the semi-finals on numerous occasions.
While Virat Kohli took the team to great heights in Test cricket, he failed to clinch an ICC trophy. The same has been the case with current skipper Rohit Sharma, under whom the team lost the T20 World Cup semi-final to England last year and also suffered a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the WTC 2023 final at The Oval.
Despite the ICC trophy drought, former skipper Sourav Ganguly believes there is no need to press the panic button.
While many consider India as favourites to win the ODI World Cup at home later this year, Ganguly reckons the batters will have to perform well for the Men in Blue to lift the coveted title.
"You cannot win World Cups all the time, there will be bad times, there will be gaps," Ganguly quoted as saying by PTI.
"They will have to bat very well, if they bat well they will win," he added.
India's preparation for the World Cup will begin with the Asia Cup 2023 followed by a three-match ODI series against Australia at home.
"The World Cup is different, Asia Cup is different and the Australia home series is different. Every tournament depends on how they play that particular moment. India are a strong side; but they have to play well during the World Cup," Ganguly said.
Earlier this week, the BCCI men's selection committee unveiled India’s 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023, slated to be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17.
While KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer made a return to the team after a lengthy injury hiatus, Sanju Samson was picked just as a backup option and promising left-hander Tilak Varma earned his maiden ODI call-up.
There was also a noteworthy omission as wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal failed to make the cut.
Commenting on Chahal’s snub, the former BCCI President said: "They have picked Axar Patel ahead of Chahal because of his batting. So I think it's a good selection. Chahal can still come back if someone gets injured. This is a 17-member squad, two, in any case, will have to move out."
When asked about the absence of a left-arm pacer in the squad, Ganguly replied: "They picked (players) on form, they picked their best fast bowling side. It's the best pace attack. I think it's a very fair side, the right side they have picked. It's just that they have to play well now."
India will open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2.
Sharing his views on the Pakistan team, Ganguly said: "They are a very good side. They have a very good bowling attack -- Naseem Shah, Shahid Afridi, Haris Rauf. They are a very balanced team. India is a strong side. It's how you play on that particular day; there is no rocket science to it."
(With PTI Inputs)
