ICC World Cup 2019 | India, England favourites, says Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen has stated that both India and England are the favourites to lift the World Cup starting in England and Wales today. Interestingly, both favourites lost their first warm-up game after being bowled out but made a comeback with a comprehensive victory in the next game.
Kevin Pietersen has gone ahead with the popular choice of India and England as his favourites for the World Cup. Australia are in the middle of a great run after going through a rough patch for the most part of the last 12 months. The Kangaroos will also be further bolstered by the return of their star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner. West Indies, on the other hand, will see their big players making a return this year after the change in management. The former England skipper felt that one of these for teams will go on to win the ten-nation tournament.
"India and England are probably the favourites. But the dark horses are Australia and the unpredictables are West Indies,” he told reporters, reported PTI.
England have grown leaps and bounds since the 2015 edition of the quadrennial event. They have transformed themselves into an aggressive side and possess the most destructive batsmen. Pietersen is delighted with the fact that the side has now learned to play a fearless brand of cricket.
"It's just beautiful to see the way English players are playing now. It's something that makes me so happy, to see them fully committed to their strokes, the way they don't fear failure, and how they are allowed to fail, the way they are backed," he expressed.
The South Africa born cricketer credited the skipper Eoin Morgan, with whom he has shared the dressing room, for the same.
"Eoin Morgan has transformed them. I'm not surprised because I was sat on a train with him years ago, talking about the way we need to play positive cricket,” shared the 38-year-old.
There has been a lot of hype in the United Kingdom surrounding the marquee event and it has also received quite a lot of media coverage. The former middle-order batsman hoped that his side does not succumb to the pressure.
"I'm not so sure putting all the eggs in one basket is the smartest move. Because the common man still loves Test cricket. I mean you guys have already said that they are winning the World Cup,” he said.
"That's the problem. I got back (to England) on Tuesday, and I've seen that England have already won the World Cup! According to you guys there is a lot of pressure and I know, as I have been part of that whole syndrome,” added Pietersen.