Not The Answer You Wanted? Ben Stokes Snubs India As He Picks Favourites For ICC World Cup 2023

While Team India has looked almost invincible in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, England allrounder Ben Stokes believes there is a different team that can go all the way in the competition.

The Men in Blue, on Thursday (November 2), became the first team to qualify for the semifinals. The Rohit Sharma-led side thrashed Sri Lanka by a record margin of 302 runs to storm into the semifinals. It was their seventh win in a row in the competition. India are also the only unbeaten side in the competition so far. Everything has clicked for them so far and they have faced very little problem in blowing away the opposition.

India thrashed five-time world champions Australia by 7 wickets to start their campaign before inflicting heavy defeats on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It was followed by a 4-wicket win over New Zealand before they thrashed reigning champions England by 100 runs while defending a modest total of 100 runs. In their last outing, they beat Sri Lanka with utmost ease to become the first team to make it to the semifinals.

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Ben Stokes picks the favourites for World Cup:

Many believe that India are the team to beat and can go all the way in the ongoing World Cup. But Ben Stokes, who definitely knows a thing or two about winning the coveted title, believes South Africa are also equally capable of doing so.

Speaking to the media ahead of England’s crucial clash against Australia, the star allrounder started by expressing his disappointment over his own’s team poor campaign before surprising everyone with his pick for the World Cup favourites.

“We’ve had a disastrous World Cup. There’s no point sugarcoating that, because it’s the truth. The problem is that we’ve been c**p,” Ben Stokes said at a press conference in Ahmedabad.

And when he was asked which team he could see going all the way, he smiled and said: “South Africa are looking good. Probably not the answer you wanted?”

South Africa have been one of the most dominant sides in the tournament so far. They have won 5 of their first 6 games and are looking destined to qualify for the semifinals. They can seal a spot in the last four if they beat India in the upcoming mouthwatering clash.