In the ICC ODI Rankings, the Indian team is ranked first, followed by Australia.
The Indian cricket team may be ranked first in the world in all formats, but former batsman Gautam Gambhir is unconcerned. With the Indian team’s aim this year being to win the ODI World Cup, Gambhir believes that the squad would need to defeat Australia, who has a wonderful performance history in ICC competitions. Australia, as the most successful team in 50-over World Cup history, begins as one of the favourites. Gambhir, on the other hand, is confident that the Indian squad will triumph.
In a special episode of Star Sports’ ‘Mission World Cup,’ 2011 Cricket World Cup champion Gambhir emphasised the importance of defeating Australia in the competition.
“Look, I’ve always said it, and there’s no doubt about it: if you want to win the World Cup, you have to beat Australia.” We overcame Australia in the World Cup semifinals in 2007. When we won the World Cup in 2011, we beat Australia in the quarterfinals. Australia is the most powerful team in every ICC competition. “Remove the ranking; the ranking is irrelevant,” he added.
In terms of country wins, Australia is the most successful winning side, having won the ICC ODI World Cup five times. West Indies and India will follow them in the World Cup winners’ ODI cricket.
Both of these teams have won the award twice. England won the most recent World Cup event in 2019 and is the current holder of the trophy.
“You can be in any position in the rankings, but when it comes to those big tournaments, the World Cups, I think Australia has the players, they have the self-belief, and Australia has the ability to play those big moments really well.” And as you can see, in both World Cups that India won, we had to defeat Australia in the knockout stage twice. And we lost the 2015 World Cup to Australia. So I believe that if we are to win the World Cup this year, Australia will be the most significant game, and we open against Australia, so there is nothing better than that. So defeating Australia is critical.” Gambhir continued
Former Australian batsman Shane Watson also discussed who he believes will reach the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
“With the calibre of players Australia has, I’m definitely going to back them.” They have a few questions going into this World Cup, with a few positions and some injuries, but the players they have surely know how to come up in these big games. And India, being at home, would know the conditions better than anyone. Their bowlers are definitely on fire right now, with their quicks and also Kuldeep Yadav, who is only getting better.
India can therefore undoubtedly win the game with their firepower, especially with their top order. Australia and India would therefore make a fantastic final, in my opinion, Watson remarked.
The final test for India at home before the World Cup will be a three-match ODI series against Australia, with the first game starting on Friday. They will then play exhibition matches against England on September 30 and the Netherlands on October 3 before the World Cup. The World Cup campaign for India would thus begin on October 8 in Chennai against Australia.
