IND Vs NED: 'This Indian Team Is The Strongest', Dinesh Karthik Heaps Praises For Team India As They Prepare For The Semi-Finals

The Indian Cricket team is all set to take on the Netherlands in their last league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The Men In Blue are still undefeated in this World Cup with eight wins to their name and they can go for a ninth win and enter the semi-finals being undefeated. Veteran Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik recently claimed that this is the strongest Indian side in ODIs.

While speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik claimed that the current Indian team is the strongest ODI side he has seen. The Indian team sits at the top with eight out of eight wins. Karthik stressed the fact that no Indian team has ever dominated like this in the World Cup.

“I’m going out on a limb to say this but this Indian team is probably the strongest team that India has ever had in ODIs. In World Cups for sure. There’s no Indian team that has dominated like this current 2023 team. You have to pit it against other Indian teams which have done very well but it will run other teams very close to it being the greatest ODI team ever in terms of performances and pressure,” said Karthik.

Toss Will Play A Big Part For The Indian Team, Says Dinesh Karthik

According to Dinesh Karthik, India will have to make a big decision at the toss as the ball tends to move at Wankhede in the powerplay and the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee will not miss a chance to trouble the Indian batters. India will most likely play New Zealand in the semi-finals as Pakistan and Afghanistan are virtually out of the World Cup because of the net run rate factor.

“It’s in Mumbai, the first big decision, if they win the toss, will be if they would bat first or bowl first because there will be dew but then they will have to get past that first spell. The first 10 overs the ball swings and moves. There’s no question what the level is going to be till the finals. It’s going to be the same XI. Every player has ticked the box and is looking good for the semis,” Karthik added.

India has 16 points in eight games and are still undefeated in this World Cup. They were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals and with an NRR of +2.456 they are on top in every aspect. The Men In Blue will finish the league stage as table toppers and they are going to face New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium in the semi-finals as of now. Prior to the semi-finals they have a last league match against the Netherlands which looks like an easy win for India given their dominant form.