Saba Karim
Saba Karim. [Photo: IANS]

ICC T20 World Cup defending champions Australia are once again the hot favourites with the marquee tournament right around the corner. Australia will be hosting the men’s event for the first time and playing in their home conditions certainly gives them the added advantage.

Currently, on a short tour of India for a three-match T20I series, a depleted Australian side has put on a display of their depth by beating a near full-strength India in a high-scoring chase.

ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Australia Are Favourites To Retain The Trophy; Says Saba Karim

Having home advantage for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 will give Australia an added advantage

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim opined that Australia remains a ‘formidable’ team and certainly are the favourites to defend the title.

Saba Karim
Saba Karim (Image Credit: Twitter)

Speaking on Sports18’s daily sports news show Sports Over The Top, Saba Karim said, “I think they remain a formidable side and are the favourites. More so because they are playing on Australian soil and the kind of changes, they have brought into the team, reflects that they are in sync with what is required to win such tournaments in Australia.” 

Australia are favourites to retain the T20 World Cup trophy owing to a strong team combination

In the series opener against India of the three-match T20I series, Australia, who are without the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis, hunted down a towering 209 runs target with four deliveries to spare to take a 1-0 lead.

India vs Australia
India vs Australia (Credits: Twitter)

Echoing on the same lines Saba Karim stated, “Big ground, so you need some more power hitters, so they bulk up that kind of portion in the side. So, they have Tim David and Glen Maxwell. For instance, in this team, you don’t have Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis, both of them very high in terms of power hitting. So, this kind of combination makes them a very strong side to retain the T20 World Cup again.”

Australia became the T20 world champions for the first time when they defeated New Zealand in the final last year in Dubai.

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