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.
Notably, India’s last ODI World Cup triumph came in 2011 when Dhoni and his men clinched the title playing on home soil.
With less than two weeks remaining for the quadrennial event, India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul recalled how he celebrated the 2011 World Cup triumph with his friends and family at one of Bengaluru's busiest places.
Rahul also hoped that the Men in Blue would give another such moment to the people of the country by going the distance in the upcoming World Cup.
"I was in Bangalore and watching the games with a few friends. I remember when we lost two quick wickets, all of us thought the game was gone. We all went back home, fearing that the traffic might get worse after the end of the game. And then, as soon we reached home, the partnership was happening. Gautam bhai and Virat were in a decent partnership and then Gauti (Gambhir) bhai and Mahi (MS Dhoni) bhai partnership,” Rahul said on Jio Cinema.
"Once we won the game, we ended up driving to the busiest area in Bangalore and it was something! It was a scene, everyone was jumping and celebrating. There was so much joy.
"It was a proud moment for all of us as Indians and hopefully, we can recreate it for the people in our country. Give it everything that we have, more than our best for the next couple of months," he added.
Rahul revealed that the players in the Indian team are excited about playing the World Cup at home and highlighted that a lot of them are playing in the quadrennial event for the first time in their careers.
"It's my first World Cup at home. For a lot of us, it's our first World Cup at home. Hope it's going to be exciting. Expectations are going through the roof, but it's always like that with the Indian team. Fingers crossed that we go out there and put on a good performance for the crowds that come in and the people of our country and give something that will make people proud," he remarked.
India will open their World Cup campaign against Australia at Chepauk on October 8.
