Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has named India as favourites to win their upcoming ODI World Cup clash against neighbours Pakistan, citing India’s ability to handle pressure as a key advantage. He added that players from countries like England and Australia tend to struggle against spin, whereas subcontinent players have a better understanding of playing spin. Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan said that since the World Cup is in the subcontinent, spinners will have a big role to play and agreed with Sehwag that India, England, Australia and Pakistan could be the favourites for the semifinals.
Furthermore, Muralitharan added that a team from the subcontinent has more chances of winning the final since the tournament is being held here, which was seconded by Sehwag during the panel discussion. The spin legend acknowledged that Sri Lanka’s current outfit is not favourites to win the World Cup title but added that they would pose a stern challenge to their opponents.
It is unfortunate for a country like us to be playing the qualifiers, said Muralitharan. But I think Sri Lanka has very good talent, they have good spin bowlers and good batsmen. Unfortunately, we have not played up to our potential for the last 4-5 years. We had a successful Asia Cup but that is T20 cricket. T20 and 50 overs cricket is totally different.
On the upcoming India-England clash, Muralitharan said, I am looking forward to the India-England match, that will be a tough match. England is playing really well at the moment. India is one of the favourites in my mind because they are playing at home and they know the conditions really well. They know how to win in India.
Meanwhile, Sehwag cleared the air over a high-pressure situation during the India-Pakistan match and said that it is unfair to say that there is no pressure. If any player says that they don’t feel pressure, I don’t think it’s right. We used to say it too but at the end of the day, we know it’s an India versus Pakistan game and emotions run high, Sehwag added.
Overall, Sehwag and Muralitharan’s insights have provided a balanced perspective on the upcoming ODI World Cup, highlighting the strengths of various teams and acknowledging the role of players’ mental and physical capabilities in high-pressure situations. Fans are eager to see how the tournament unfolds, with several exciting matches expected to take place between some of the world’s best cricket teams.
