Brian Lara Rates India As World Cup Favourites Ahead Of England

That England have been widely tipped to win this year’s World Cup is well known. The only team to have lost three World Cup finals, England are finally entering the World Cup as red-hot favourites. No team has won more games than them since the conclusion of the last World Cup. Since 2016, they have scored 400 or more runs in an ODI innings thrice while no other team has scored even once.

Currently the best ranked ODI side in the world, England have looked the most dangerous side in recent times. What brightens their chances even more is their incredible record at home. Since the last World Cup, they have only lost nine of 47 ODIs. With form, momentum on their side as well as the home advantage, England do have a huge chance of breaking their World Cup duck.

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However, just hours before England kickoff their World Cup campaign against South Africa, legendary batsman Brian Lara has shot down the hosts’ title-winning credentials. Lara pointed out England’s dismal past record in World Cup to back his comments although he said that the Eoin Morgan-led side will make it to the last four.

“That’s my only worry with England,” he told Sportsmail. “I feel like they are going to be in the semi-finals of the World Cup, I think that’s a surety… (and) I don’t rule England out. (But) the records show that in all-important games, they walk away losers.

“England tend not to win things – finals – but they are a pretty solid team and they are going to be a big deal in the World Cup,” he added.

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The former West Indies captain instead feels that India are the best suited in the round-robin format and can go all the way.

“You are asking teams to play five or six very big games just to qualify and I think consistency is going to play a very important part,”  Brian Lara said. “I believe India might be the best team in terms of the ability to go throughout the tournament – the variation they have in their bowling, the outstanding batting they have so my pick will be that India will make it through to the final.”

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