"Don't Know How It...": Kapil Dev, India's 1st World Cup-Winning Cricket Captain, On Rohit Sharma-led Team's Chances At Marquee Event

25.07.2023 - 15:13 sports.ndtv.com

India will enter the ICC World Cup 2023 as obvious favourites, and former captain Kapil Dev on Tuesday said the home side should tame the pressure of expectations to regain the trophy.

Two-time champions India will be keen to add another title to their cabinet after a hiatus of 12 years during the October 5-November 19 tournament. "I don't know how it will pan out.

They are yet to announce the team for the World Cup. India will always enter a tournament as favourites as it has been the case for a long time," said Kapil on the sidelines of the launch of Golf Fitting Centre here at the Karnataka Golf Association. "It's all about how the team comes to terms with the expectations from all sides.

We have won a World Cup at home, and I am sure the team, whoever gets selected, can do it again. A World Cup is coming in four years, and I hope the players will be fully prepared," said Kapil.

cricket India Cricket Team World Cup 2023 cup on Rohit Sharma Kapil Dev India

Former Pakistan pacer Sarfaraz Nawaz finds the Babar Azam-led side a more stable unit than India as the arch-rivals have not been able to "work out" their combinations going into the Asia Cup and subsequent ODI World Cup. India will go into the Asia Cup, starting August 31, without finalising their middle-order. “Pakistan has a much more settled and stable outfit for the Asia Cup and World Cup when compared to India. The Indians have still not been able to work out their final combination for these major events,” Nawaz told the media in Lahore on Friday.

Could Tilak Varma Play In 2023 ODI World Cup? Rohit Sharma Answers The Big Question

The emergence of young batter Tilak Varma has given the Indian cricket team and its fans plenty of hope. The left-handed batter did wonders for the team in the first three T20Is against West Indies, playing a responsible yet attractive style of batting. His success made many wonder whether the 20-year-old batter can be considered the No. 4 spot in the Indian team for the ODI World Cup 2023. India skipper Rohit Sharma, when asked about the same, didn't shut the doors on his Mumbai Indians teammate.

"Even I Am Not...": Rohit Sharma On Team India's Asia Cup Squad Selection

Several new players have made their senior international debut in the Indian team since the conclusion of the 2022 T20 World Cup. While the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been away from the T20 format entirely, they were even kept away from the ODI side in the recent showdown against West Indies. With the Asia Cup being Team India's next big event, skipper Rohit Sharma suggested that even he isn't an automatic selection in the squad at the moment. Rohit also hinted that there will be pressure on some players to perform at the Asia Cup with World Cup spots up for grabs.

"After Yuvraj Singh Nobody....": Rohit Sharma Admits Grim Situation Ahead Of Asia Cup, World Cup

The ODI World Cup 2023 in India is less that two months away but the hosts' team combination is nowhere close to being sorted. Much like the 2019 World Cup, the one slot which is bothering India is the No. 4 slot. No batter has succeeded in settling into the vital number four slot in the Indian ODI team since the retirement of Yuvraj Singh, captain Rohit Sharma said on Thursday, raising serious concerns before the World Cup. With the 50-over World Cup less than two months away, India are struggling to find a batter for the No. 4 slot, something that has also troubled them in the previous edition in 2019 in England.

"Middle Order Crumbled Without Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma": Ex-India Star's Warning For Youngsters Ahead Of World Cup

The recently-concluded India vs West Indies three-match ODI series was a good test for the former team that continues to prepare for the ODI World Cup 2023. After the series opener, India rested veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the next two games. The very first game without the two star players saw Indian batting unit failing miserably. The side posted was bundled out for 181 runs batting first before West Indies chased it down in 36.4 overs with six wickets in hand.

On ODI World Cup, Ex-Pakistan's Star's Stern Warning To Team India

Indian batters are known for their ability to tackle spinners, something which has been missing of late, according to former Pakistan captain Salman Butt. Following India's defeat to West Indies in the first T20I, Butt urged the team management to address the issue. The visitors won the ODI series 2-1 last week, but lost the T20I opener in the absence of senior pros like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Butt feels that the current crop of players have not been able to cement their supremacy, when it comes to tackling spinners.