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Sunil Gavaskar selects his 2019 World Cup favourites and it’s not India

Dixit Bhargav
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Sunil Gavaskar selects his 2019 World Cup favourites

Sunil Gavaskar selects his 2019 World Cup favourites: The former India captain put forward his top team for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 only a 100 days away from today, a plethora of former cricketers and current cricket experts are putting forward their best combinations for their respective countries.

After former cricketers in Gautam GambhirZaheer Khan and Shane Warne, veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh became the next celebrated personality to share his version of the Indian squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Other than the World Cup squad, former cricketers are also picking the favourites for the world event. Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain and the first batsman to cross 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, became the latest entrant in this list.

“England are the strong favourites”

Highlighting their change in attitude after a dismal performance in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Gavaskar believed that hosts England are strong favourites for the tourney.

“The strong favourites in the World Cup tournament are England. And it is not just because it will be a home World Cup for them, but because they have changed their attitude towards ODI cricket,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying to India Today.

Since the 2015 World Cup, England have played 77 ODIs and won 51 out of them. Under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan, England changed substantial gears with respect to their game and the players which represented them in ODIs.

“Since 2015, the manner in which they changed their game, the way in which they picked their team – England have grown into a strong side. They have a good opening pair, they have strong middle-order batters, they also have a good all-rounder, and when you play at home, you also have a strong backing,” Gavaskar further praised the English ODI team.

“Playing in England will be advantage for India”

Talking about the Indian team, Gavaskar brought to notice that them playing in England for the last two year will be an advantage for them. While Gavaskar hinted India to bank on their recent experience, he was adamant at England lifting the cup.

“One advantage India have is they have played in England for two consecutive years. So the players who will be part of the World Cup squad will be aware of the conditions, and hence will be able to use their experience. Probably, India can use the factor to lift the World Cup. But I feel the favourites are England, and then India,” Gavaskar added.

Apart from England and India, Gavaskar zeroed in on Pakistan and Australia to win the tournament. About the latter, he laid emphasis on the return of Steve Smith and David Warner making them strong.

“Pakistan have always been a formidable side. And the Australian team will look strong with the return of Steve Smith and David Warner. These four teams will be in the semi-finals. New Zealand could also spring a surprise because conditions in England are similar to theirs,” he concluded.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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