Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is optimistic about India’s prospects in the 2023 World Cup, stating that they have a better chance of securing victory than in the 2015 and 2019 editions. Gambhir believes that the current Men in Blue, under Rohit Sharma, exhibits greater stability compared to the past two tournaments.

In an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda, Gambhir emphasized India’s serious contention for the 2023 World Cup.

“India’s chances of winning the 2023 World Cup are high, even better than in 2015 and 2019. This is because the team reflects the leader’s style—they admire and follow the leader. If Rohit Sharma had focused on batting longer, he could have scored 3-4 centuries in this World Cup,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir also stressed the significance of trophies in determining the legacy of individuals and teams, expressing his belief that the current Indian team, performing exceptionally well, is the favourite to lift the trophy on November 19th.

“In a major tournament like this, records don’t hold much significance. You accumulate records in bilateral matches. Your true legacy is shaped by the number of trophies you bring home. This team possesses all the elements needed to clinch the World Cup. If they fall short, it would be a significant disappointment,” he added.

As India gears up for their final league game against The Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday, all eyes are on a potential semifinal clash against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15.

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In a press conference held in Bengaluru on Saturday, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid commended the exemplary leadership of captain Rohit Sharma in the ongoing World Cup. Dravid emphasized that Rohit has not only led the team on the field but has also been a fearless force at the top of the batting order.

Speaking ahead of India’s final league game against the Netherlands, Dravid praised Rohit for his aggressive approach. He highlighted Rohit’s journey from missing the 2011 World Cup to leading the side in 2023. He also expressed how the captain has allowed the team the freedom to express themselves, resulting in eight consecutive victories.

“He’s been a great captain for a while. The team and coaches respect him a lot. It’s nice to watch him work. I believe he truly deserves all the success he’s getting, and hopefully, it keeps going,” Dravid said.

Rohit Sharma’s aggressive batting style as an opener has been instrumental in providing India with flying starts. It has put the opposition’s new-ball attacks under immense pressure. With 442 runs at a strike rate of over 100, Rohit’s selfless approach has seen him take on the main bowlers and set the tone for successful chases.

“Rohit is definitely a great leader, no doubt. He leads by example both on and off the field. The starts he gives us and how he opens up games are impressive. Many times, there were games that could have been tricky, but he helped us crack them open with his strong starts,” Dravid said.

“In the end, it seemed easy, but looking back, as a coaching staff, when we reviewed it, we understood how crucial his innings in such games were. It has certainly made it easier for the guys who came after. He’s been fantastic with his batting and leadership, taking on the game and leading from the front. We talk about playing the game in a certain way. You can’t do that unless your leader truly believes in it and sets an example,” he concluded.

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India will face the Netherlands on Sunday, November 12 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in their last league match. All eyes would be on Virat Kohli as he is just one century away from scoring his 50th ODI hundred. However, the fans are curious whether Virat will play or the management will rest him to prepare for the semi-finals.

In the latest events, Rahul Dravid has shed light on the matter and hinted that the team may stick with the same playing XI for their upcoming match against the Netherlands.

England vs Pakistan Dream11 Team – VIDEO

Dravid added that Indian players are well-rested before their match against the Netherlands. “We have had six days off since our last game, so boys are pretty well rested. The guys are in good shape and ready to go. With just one game to play before the semi-finals, we’re feeling confident and prepared. That’s all I have to say for now.”

“As we come closer to the end of the tournament, it is essential to maintain our focus on picking the best players for the playing XI. This will not only help us mentally but also physically, enabling us to perform at our best during the semi-finals and, hopefully, the final in case we qualify.”

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Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan has been the talk of the town for the past few days after he appealed against Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews for coming late to the crease. Mathews was eventually given out after he faced an equipment malfunction, which resulted in heavy criticism towards Shakib.

Most of the cricket pundits and experts slammed Shakib for not upholding the spirit of cricket, while Hasan defended his move by stating that he abided by the laws given by MCC.

England vs Pakistan Dream11 Team – VIDEO

In the latest events, India’s head coach addressed the press, where he got asked about his opinion on the time-out incident. Dravid refused to criticise the Bangladeshi skipper and stated that he cannot blame someone who wanted to follow the rule.

“We can’t blame someone who wants to follow rules to the nth degree just because we may not follow them.”

After the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match, the Island Nation refused to shake hands with Bangladesh and even Mathews, took to social media platforms to provide video evidence of him reaching the crease within the set time of two minutes.

Meanwhile, India will take on the Netherlands for their last league stage match on November 12 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

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In the match between Bangladesh and Australia, The Tigers, batting first, put 306 runs on the board, their highest total in this World Cup.

Once again, Australian bowling had to rely on Adam Zampa for wickets, as the wrist-spinner took a two-wicket haul and now has the most wickets (22) for Australia by a spinner in a single edition.

England vs Pakistan Dream11 Team – VIDEO

Other than Zampa, Australia also relied on Marnus Labuschagne’s fielding and produced two scintillating run-outs. Out of the two, one run-out that took over the internet was of Mahmudullah’s, where Marnus produced a Johnty Rhodes-like run-out.

During the 36th over of Bangladesh’s innings, Josh Hazlewood bowled a length ball which Towhid Hridoy hit towards cover and ran for a single. Labuschagne chased the ball and picked it up using one hand, and then produced an under-arm direct hit at the striker’s end. Mahmudullah tried to make it to his crease by making a desperate dive, but unfortunately, he was found short of his crease. Here is the video of the dismissal.

The run-out was only inspired by Jonty, as the legendary South African fielder inspired the cricketing world after he ran Inzamam-ul-Haq out in the 1992 World Cup.

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Pakistan’s bowling has been below-par in the ICC World Cup 2023. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, who were bowling well before the tournament, lost their sheen in the global tournament in India.

In his conversation with Sanjay Bangar, Shaheen admitted that Naseem Shah’s absence from World Cup impacted his bowling.

“I spoke to Shaheen Afridi about the impact Naseem Shah’s injury had on Pakistan’s bowling. He told me that they have missed him a lot and his bowling has taken a lot of him because Naseem suffered an unfortunate injury,” Sanjay Bangar said during the ongoing match between Pakistan and England at yr the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Pakistan are out of the semi-final and they are playing for their pride in the last game of the campaign.

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Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on Afghanistan as their impressive World Cup 2023 journey concluded, labeling them the second-best Asian team in the tournament. Despite falling short of the semifinals, Afghanistan’s performance garnered praise, with Pathan commending their top-quality cricket.

Led by skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s campaign stood out as a fairytale, marked by victories against cricket powerhouses Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England. Notably, they had only secured two World Cup wins before this remarkable tournament.

In their final group match against South Africa, Afghanistan displayed resilience, posting 244 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai’s impressive unbeaten 97. Despite their efforts, South Africa secured victory by five wickets.

Pathan, a vocal supporter of Afghanistan, expressed his admiration for their cricketing prowess throughout the tournament. He declared Afghanistan as the second-best Asian team, trailing only behind India.

In a tweet, he applauded their performance and expressed hope for the team to continue creating magic on the field.

“Top quality cricket by Afghanistan this World Cup. Second best Asian team for sure. Hopefully from here on this team will create magic on the field. Good luck going forward @ACBofficials @rashidkhan_19,” he wrote on X. 

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In the 43rd match of ICC World Cup 2023, Bangladesh, batting first, put 306 runs on the board against Australia, their highest total in ICC World Cup 2023. Towid Hridoy was the star with the bat and scored 74 (79), which featured five fours and two sixes.

Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowler and took two wickets. Zampa now has 22 wickets in this World Cup, which is the most for an Australian spinner in a single World Cup edition. The five-time winners now need to chase 309 runs in fifty overs.

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Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has taken a swipe at Pakistan’s bowling attack, suggesting that he should have had an average of 200 against them. The remark came in response to Pakistan’s dwindling chances of making it to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup after New Zealand’s victory over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s hopes relied heavily on a Sri Lankan win, but the setback has made their task against England even more challenging. To secure a semi-final berth, Babar Azam’s team now needs to defeat England by at least 287 runs in their final group match.

Sehwag, known for his outspoken nature, had earlier stirred controversy with a ‘Pakistan Zindabhaag’ tweet, hinting at Pakistan’s premature exit from the tournament. This tweet sparked a heated exchange between fans from both sides of the border.

In response to a Pakistan fan claiming their bowlers troubled Sehwag, an Indian fan pointed out Sehwag’s impressive average of nearly 91 against Pakistan. Sehwag quoted this tweet and took a dig at Pakistan’s bowling attack.

“Nahi yaar, Wasim bhai ke retirement ke baad jaise yeh thhey, 200 ki avg honi chahiye tha inke saath. But jo bhi ho, tab bhi aur ab bhi Inke Mazzey lene mein maza aata hai.” Translated, he expressed that considering the quality of Pakistan’s bowling after Wasim Akram’s retirement, he should have had an average of 200 against them, but regardless, it is still enjoyable to play against them,” he wrote on X.

Sehwag’s comment adds to the speculation that an India-New Zealand semi-final is imminent, as many former cricketers have already accepted this likelihood. Meanwhile, Pakistan faces a tough challenge against England, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits the outcome of their final group match.

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In the 44th match of the ICC World Cup 2023, England won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan.

The Men in Green have made one change to their playing XI. Babar Azam said, “We have good bowlers, we will try to get them out cheaply.”

Pakistan’s slimmest chances of qualifying for the semi-final are over after England opted to bat first. The Men in Green will have to cross what ever total England set in a span of few overs.

Pakistan Playing XI: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf

England Playing XI: J Bairstow, D Malan, J Root, B Stokes, H Brook, J Buttler (C) (W), M Ali, C Woakes, D Willey, G A’inson, A Rashid

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