India are favoured to lift the World Cup on home soil, as in 2011. But that expectation may be their biggest obstacle.
Host country India are tournament favourites and Australia are five-time champions but were last triumphant on home soil in 2015. The most recent World Cup is remembered for the extraordinary scenes in the final at Lord’s. England were victorious – on boundary countback against New Zealand. This is how this year’s 10 competing nations, including the Netherlands and Afghanistan, shape up.
India have not won a World Cup since 2011, beaten in the semi-finals in each of the past two tournaments and also thwarted in the T20 World Cup. One of the hallmarks of India’s recent wins in the Asia Cup and the recent series against Australia were the contributions of a group of hungry players who did not make the final squad - the pressure is on the likes of Virat Kohli and other older heads to deliver in the same way Sachin Tendulkar and M.S. Dhoni did 12 years ago.
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid provide a pair of genuine spin threats on Indian surfaces, and in Harry Brook, England have perhaps the most exciting young batter in the world. With T20 franchise leagues encroaching evermore on the contractual status of players, this may be the last dance for an England set-up that has not only won trophies, but proven influential in how other sides think about doing so.
The big gamble by Pat Cummins’ team is the inclusion of Travis Head even though he is currently recovering from a broken hand and will not be able to play until the second half of the tournament.
Nevertheless, the Proteas have performed strongly in ODIs this year under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, albeit with all 12 matches played at home. Certainly Australia’s bowlers will warn others of the ability of Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram, while Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj are quality spin bowlers. The loss of Anrich Nortje’s sheer pace is significant.
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