ICC World Cup 2023: "India Will Be Under Most Pressure"- Herschelle Gibbs

Former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs said that India being the hosts of the ICC World Cup 2023 will be under the most pressure in the upcoming event. India will be hosting the World Cup from October-5 to November 19. Ahmedabad will host the campaign opener and the final.

Gibbs predicted that India who have not won an ICC title for more than a decade will be under tremendous pressure as the hosts. He spoke to ANI from the sidelines of the Zim Afro T20 League.

“India are under the most pressure. They got some big players who enjoy pressure and play really well under pressure but I will say it is wide open because there are so many teams that play in sub-continent conditions. I think it will be a very exciting tournament,” said Herchelle Gibbs while speaking to ANI.

South Africa themselves have a point to prove in the World Cup. They were unfortunate to lose the way they did in the 1992 World Cup semi-final against Sydney where they needed 22 off 1 ball.

Next in the 1996 World Cup, they entered the quarter-final with five back-to-back wins and leading the table. However, they lost to West Indies in the semi-final in Karachi where they lost to Wets Indians by 19 runs. They were unfortunate again to lose the 1999 semi-final against Australia. They managed to tie the game but lost out on the final spot as Australia beat them in the Super Six stage.

Also Read: South Africa World Cup Schedule 2023: Full Schedule With PDF, Match List, Time Table, Date, Venue, Time

South Africa were the hosts of the 2003 World Cup where yet again they failed to deliver. They yet again lost in the Super Six stage to Sri Lanka. In the 2007 and 2015 stage, they made it to the semi-final while in 2011 and 2019 they made league stage exits from the tournament.

Also Read: Australia World Cup Schedule 2023: Full Schedule With PDF, Match List, Time Table, Date, Venue, Time

South Africa Need To Get Into The Final: Herschelle Gibbs

“I think I always said that we need to get into the final. Never mind the semifinal we need to get into the final. The day we get into the final we may win the World Cup,” Gibbs concluded saying.

India take on South Africa in Kolkata on November 5. South Africa defeated India in the league stage of the T20 World Cup 2022.

Also Read: India World Cup Schedule 2023: Full Schedule With PDF, Match List, Time Table, Date, Venue, Time