ICC World Cup 2023: Sourav Ganguly Picks Five Teams Who Can Win World Cup, Ignores South Africa

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly recently picked five teams who can win the ODI World Cup 2023 in India and he didn’t include South Africa in his list. The tournament will start from October 5th at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the final match will take place on November 19th.

Less than 50 days left before the most prestigious tournament starts, and the cricket pundits have already started to make their predictions and increase the excitement of the ODI World Cup and now former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sourav Ganguly has also given his predictions.

Sourav Ganguly was speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event and picked the best five teams of the upcoming ODI World Cup,

The 51-year-old said that Australia will be one of those five teams, and later added that one cannot ignore  New Zealand from the list. The former skipper then named the reigning champions, England, and in the end, he named India and Pakistan.

“I presume Australia will be one, England, Pakistan, and don’t rule New Zealand out… But if you ask me my best 5 at the moment, it’s Australia, England, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan,” Sourav Ganguly said.

This is a fantastic side: Sourav Ganguly

While talking about the most common question in the Indian cricket fraternity, the number four spot, Ganguly said that the Men in Blue have many such batsmen who can perform at number four.

“Who said we don’t have a No. 4? We have so many (batsmen) who can bat at that spot. I think differently; my mindset is different. This is a fantastic side. I see Tilak Varma as an option, being a left-hander,” he added.

“It has to be a team of experience and people who don’t have any scars — like Jaiswal, Varma, Ishan Kishan. They can go and play fearless cricket. Rahul (Dravid), Rohit and the selectors have plenty of choices; they just have to identify and pick the best XI,” the 51-year-old concluded.

The first match of the ODI World Cup 2023 will be played between England and New Zealand. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma-led India will begin their campaign on October 8th against Australia at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.