Legendary Sunil Gavaskar reckons Team India will need a rub of the green on their side to go all the way in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Gavaskar feels there are four-five teams, who can go on to win the forthcoming ODI showpiece.
Meanwhile, India last won the World Cup in 2011 when they hosted the major event. Once again, the Indian team will be looking to go all the way in the quadrennial event by making the most of their own conditions.
India has a potent team and they have been qualifying for the knockout stages of major ICC events on a consistent basis. But they have failed to bring their best in the big matches of the major tournaments.
Meanwhile, India last won a major title back in 2013 when MS Dhoni led them to glory in the Champions Trophy. However, since then India has not won a big title in the last decade.
India was knocked out of the 2019 World Cup after losing to New Zealand in the semifinals.
Sunil Gavaskar said on the sidelines of a promotional event, “At the last World Cup (2019) we had a match (semi-final versus New Zealand), which stretched into the second day. If it had gone the proper full day we might have had a different story because the next day it was seaming conditions and the New Zealand bowlers could bowl well.”
“So, I think you need a little bit of luck on the day. I mean there are four-five very good teams, so you need luck on the day,” he added.
The Little Master feels the team needs a bit of luck in the big matches in order to go all the way.
“We have got immense talent, (but) in the knockout stage you need a little bit of luck on the day. If you look at our situation in the knockout stages where we have lost, we had ill luck just about every time,” Gavaskar added.
Meanwhile, the 2011 team had a lot of batters, who could roll their arm over, a luxury which the current side doesn’t have. Gavaskar said the team with more all-rounders will hold the advantage in the ODI showpiece.
“You see MSD’s team also: Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag could all bowl. It was the biggest plus. So, any team that has all-rounders (will hold the edge). You look at England who won last year’s T20 World Cup, look at the all-rounders they had. So, all-rounders are the key element,” Gavaskar said.
India will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia at Chennai on October 8.
