Team India’s record in the ICC events has been underwhelming to say the least the last 10 years. After MS Dhoni led the side to a Champions Trophy triumph in 2013, India have lost as many as four ICC tournament finals and bowed out in the semi-finals on numerous occasions.
With the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 around the corner, many feel that the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has a great opportunity to end the global title drought in home conditions.
The 50-over World Cup, featuring 10 teams, is slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
Having led India to the 1985 World Championship of Cricket triumph, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar knows what it takes to lead a team to a global title.
Speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event, Gavaskar highlighted the importance of luck to win marquee tournaments.
He also pointed out that the common factor in India’s three winning sides was all-rounders.
“More than anything else, luck on the day is very important and if you look at the teams (in 1983, 1985 and 2011), they all had top class all-rounders. You had batters who could bowl 7-8-9 overs and bowlers who could bat down the order. That was the biggest plus of those teams. You see MSD’s team also: Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag could all bowl. It was the biggest plus. So, any team which has all-rounders (will hold the edge).
“You look at England who won last year's T20 World Cup, look at the all-rounders they had. So, all-rounders are the key element,” Gavaskar stated.
The next three months will define Rohit Sharma as a captain since the Asia Cup and the World Cup are scheduled one after another.
Commenting on Rohit’s captaincy, Gavaskar said: “At the end of the day you are judged by the number of trophies you have won, the numbers of wins you have. Winning these two tournaments will make him one of India’s greatest skippers.”
While the team management doesn’t have control over injuries, Gavaskar was pleased with India’s preparation plan leading into the two events.
“(Overall preparation is) as good as any. They have had enough rest, enough practice, they are all refreshed and raring to go,” said Gavaskar, before he emphasized on the luck factor.
“We have got immense talent, (but) in the knockout stage you need a little bit of luck on the day. If you look at our situation in the knockout stages where we have lost, we had ill-luck just about every time.
"At the last World Cup (2019) we had a match (semifinal versus New Zealand) which stretched into the second day. If it had gone the proper full day we might have had a different story, because the next day it was seaming conditions and the New Zealand bowlers could bowl well. So, I think you need a little bit of luck on the day. I mean there are four-five very good teams, so you need luck on the day.”
(Hindustan Times Inputs)
