Last Update on: September 7th, 2023 at 02:08 pm
Former India player, Sunil Gavaskar warned Rohit Sharma-led India even after saying that they are the favourite in the ODI World Cup 2023 since they are playing on home soil.
On Tuesday (September 5th), Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma held a press conference to announce the 15-member squad for the Men in Blues who will be taking part in the ODI World Cup 2023.
The team selection committee kept the same squad as Asia Cup 2023 and only removed Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna from the team. The squad is currently in Sri Lanka to take part in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 and will lock horns against Pakistan in the third Super Four match of the tournament on Sunday (September 10th) at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
While speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said that at home India will get an advantage for the crowd support and also because the players know the conditions well.
The former player warned Rohit Sharma’s side and stated that there are other teams who are equally good and they should not take them lightly.
“At home, it’s always an advantage. The crowd support, the knowledge of how the pitch is going to be… so yes, they definitely are the favourites. But there are 2-3 other teams equally good. So, it’s difficult to say if they are going to win because cricket is a game which can change in a matter of overs, particularly in fifty-over format,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
These are the sides which are pretty much in contention: Sunil Gavaskar
The Indian cricket legend said that England, Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand are equally good and will give a tough fight in the tournament and the Men in Blues need to be careful.
“England is a good team, Australia are good, Pakistan is good as well, so these are the side which are pretty much in contention. But don’t forget that New Zealand are always under the radar,” he added.
India will start their ODI World Cup journey against Australia on October 8th at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.