Team India’s record in the ICC events has been quite underwhelming in 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.
Speaking to Sky Sports, former England skipper Eoin Morgan opined that a fit Hardik Pandya makes the hosts a genuine contender for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
“The fitness level of Hardik Pandya, his ability to bowl. He has bowled little bit in the Asia Cup so far but he has bowled really well and there are very few sides in the tournament that would be a genuine contenders that will have somebody who bats in the top six and has the ability to bowl,” Morgan said.
“It’s the old Ben Stokes role that we have for years with England.
“Australia have the likes of Stoinis and Cameron Green but that role genuinely balances the side and over the course of the World Cup we will see various different pitches.
“Majority of the contending teams have spinners that bat really well. Their bases are generally covered.
“But having Hardik Pandya fit and being able to bowl five and six overs of the quality bowling really does in my eyes make them probably favourite.”
Morgan also cited that home conditions will give India a massive edge over other teams but coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma will have to ignore the outside noise.
“I remember India toured here last summer. Rahul Dravid in one of his initial press conferences as coach said ‘We want to play fearless cricket.’ They are winning bilateral series all the time but fell short at the T20 World Cup, which was his first test as a new coach.
“They didn’t get it right in Adelaide but home conditions gives you a certain level of comfort, certain level of habit, they have already grooved over the years that is an advantage the other teams don’t have.
“So it would be lot easier to blocking down the noise in India because they have done it before but the direction in doing that will come from the captain and coach.”
