"Don't Know Real Truth...": India Great Wonders About Injured Star Ahead Of World Cup 2023

29.06.2023 - 05:53 sports.ndtv.com

The ICC World Cup 2023 is less than 100 days away and excitement is at an all-time high after the official schedule was announced for the tournament.

The Indian cricket team will start their campaign against Australia on October 8 with the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan happening on October 15 in Ahmedabad.

With home conditions in their favour, India are widely being considered to be one of the main contenders for the title but former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that the absence of wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant can be a major factor. "We don't know the real truth about Rishabh Pant.

Because Rishabh Pant, if he was playing, I would have straightaway said that India are the real favourites for the World Cup.

cricket India Cricket Team cup Virat Kohli Australia India Pakistan Ahmedabad

The absence of Yuzvendra Chahal from India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad emerged as a big talking point in the Indian cricketing spectrum, with many former cricketers and fans criticising the selection committee over the decision. Chahal, who has been a mainstay in India's white-ball team for a long period of time, couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was snubbed for the showpiece event, especially considering the team was being led by Virat Kohli, who was also his captain at Royal Challengers Bangalore at that time.

Virat Kohli Enters Elite Top 5, Leaves Behind India Great With Huge Test Feat

One of the greatest batters in history, Virat Kohli wasn't the man in focus on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies, with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma scoring centuries to put India in the driver's seat. Yet, Kohli managed to bag another big milestone to his name, leaving behind one of the finest openers in the game, Virender Sehwag. With his unbeaten 36-run knock on Thursday, Kohli saw himself earning a promotion to the top 5 Test batters in the history of Indian cricket.

2023 World Cup To Be Virat Kohli's Last? West Indies Great Gives Honest Take

Almost 12 years after winning the 2011 ODI World Cup on home soil, Team India will once again enter the marquee event later this year as hosts. Back then, a 23-year-old Virat Kohli was part of the team which lifted the title at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Now, Kohli, 34, heads into the tournament as the lone active member from the team which defeated Sri Lanka in the final. While there has been a lot of chatter regarding his form, West Indies great Chris Gayle feels that the upcoming World Cup won't be Kohli's last.

For Shadab Khan, Even If Pakistan Lose To India At 2023 World Cup, It'll Be 'Win-Win' If This Happens

From the day the 2023 World Cup schedule was announced, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan clash. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October. The tournament will begin with holders England taking on New Zealand on October 5 at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host the final. The schedule was announced after weeks of delay due to Pakistan's earlier refusal to travel to India, but a compromise was reached when Pakistan agreed to host a hybrid-model Asia Cup in September.

"Don't See...": Chris Gayle's Big Statement On Virat Kohli's Likely Form At 2023 World Cup

Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle expects star India batter Virat Kohli to dominate proceedings at the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup on home soil. Kohli has been in stellar form with the bat since ending his century drought last year during the Asia Cup in UAE. He has score four tons across formats since then. The 34-year-old also hit two back-to-back centuries during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League season.

India, Pakistan Players Should Demand "Lot Of Money" For Marquee World Cup Clash: Chris Gayle

Talking about the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India later this year, Chris Gayle has picked India, England, Pakistan and New Zealand as the four semi-finalists. On the much awaited Indo-Pak clash in Ahmedabad on October 15, Gayle has a rather different take. "Whenever those teams play, especially in a World Cup, the revenues they generate is humongous. One game can take care of the entire ICC event. Pakistan and India players should demand a lot of money for those games because those games are high paid games TV wise," Gayle told PTI.