Playing in England in last two years will help India during World Cup, believes Sunil Gavaskar

Playing in England in last two years will help India during World Cup, believes Sunil Gavaskar

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By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Sunil Gavaskar is of the opinion that India's experience of playing in England in 2017 and 2018 has made most of the players aware of the conditions during the upcoming World Cup. The former opener also mentioned that England would be strong favourites because of their changed attitude towards ODIs.

With the ICC Cricket World Cup fast approaching, almost all the participating nations are at their final stage of preparations for the big event. India commence their campaign against South Africa in their opening game on June 5 and the Men in Blue will be playing their last ODI series before the prestigious event against the Aussies next month. 

However, while the recent preparations would be on Indian soil, the team had played in the English conditions during their tour in July and August last year and most of the Indian players were also a part of the ICC Champions Trophy held in England in 2017. According to former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, the experience of playing in those conditions in the last two years will be helpful for Virat Kohli and Co.

“The advantage that India have is they have played in England for two consecutive years - 2017 and 2018. 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 and probably India can use the factor to lift the World Cup. But I feel the most favourites are England and then come India,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar, however, asserted that the Englishmen will be strong favourites for the tournament as they have a changed attitude towards the ODIs. The team has transformed since their terrible show in the previous World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. England is currently sitting at the top of the ICC ODI rankings followed by India.

“The strong favourites in the World Cup tournament are England. And it is not because of the fact that it will be a home World Cup for them. But because they have changed their attitude towards ODI cricket. They had lost in the league stage in 2015 World Cup, probably against Bangladesh. But since then, 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 in the form of and when you play at home you also have a strong backing,” the former skipper said.

“Pakistan have always been a formidable side. And the Australian team will look strong with the return of Steve Smith and David Warner. So these four teams will be in the semifinals. New Zealand are also favourites because conditions in England are almost similar to theirs. So they cane spring a surprise, but they have never gone ahead of semifinals as what I have seen.”

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