Sourav Ganguly Wants India To Win More Games Ahead Of World Cup 2023
Indian captain Rohit Sharma with coach Rahul Dravid (Twitter)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently announced team’s 15-player squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023. Former cricketers Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, who were part of the victorious Indian unit back in 2011, believes Sharma and co. can replicate team’s 12-year-old success once again in home conditions.
However, ex-skipper Sourav Ganguly was quick to dish out a reality check to his two former teammates, and claimed that the current team need to get back to winning ways prior to the launch of the tournament.
Ganguly’s questions India’s chances, cites past records
Yuvraj Singh, India’s 2011 World Cup hero, believes that the current unit led by Rohit Sharma can excel under pressure to lift the coveted trophy once again in front of home crowd. His former teammate Virender Sehwag, another 2011 World Cup alumni, backed the all-rounder and stated that the ‘Men in Blue’ will indeed prevail in the competition.
The former opener even cited the example of last three World Cup events, where host nations finished at the top of the winner’s podium on each occasion.
Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag’s ex-teammate and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was quick to give a reality check to the two, by questioning if the ‘Men in Blue’ are indeed favourites for the tournament.
The ex-BCCI chairman recalled India’s recent performance at ICC events, including this year’s 209-run drubbing to Australia in the WTC final and last year’s 10-wicket larruping in the T20 World Cup semi-final at the hands of England. Moreover, Team India has not managed to secure a single ICC title ever since their triumphant run in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sourav Ganguly said:
“Is #TeamIndia favourite because the World Cup is held in India or because we’re playing with strength and confidence, @virendersehwag? Yes, we won against Aus in Aus, drew series against England but then we lost to them both in big match situations. I think we have a solid team and a big chance, but we do need to get back to our winning ways before the #ICCworldCup23.”
Ganguly urged Rohit Sharma and co. to get back to winning ways and enter World Cup 2023 at home with much confidence.
In the meantime, Team India is currently in Sri Lanka for the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. The continental event will be followed by three ODI matches at home against Australia, thus marking their final set of on-field preparations prior to the quadrennial tournament.
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