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Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the commencement of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, set to kick off on October 5 in India. This high-profile tournament promises to be a cricketing spectacle, featuring a clash of titans in its opening game, where England and New Zealand, the finalists of the 2019 World Cup, will face off.
As the excitement surrounding the tournament continues to build, cricket experts and former players have begun sharing their insights and predictions for potential winners and standout team combinations. Among them, former Australian cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist has recently offered his thoughts on the favourites for this global showpiece event.
India amongst Adam Gilchrist’s top picks
In a recent event held in Ahmedabad, Gilchrist revealed his top four favourites to clinch the prestigious ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Gilchrist’s picks include arch-rivals India and Pakistan, along with Australia and England.
“I think India and Pakistan could feature, Australia and England are another two teams,” Gilchrist told reporters, highlighting the competitive nature of these cricketing nations.
Also READ: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar picks Team India’s ‘Trump Card’ for the ODI World Cup 2023
Crucial series against India
Gilchrist also emphasized the importance of the upcoming ODI series between Australia and India as a vital preparation phase leading up to the ODI World Cup. Notably, Australia recently faced a 3-2 series loss against South Africa, which raised questions about their form in the 50-over format.
“Australia will learn a lot from their efforts in South Africa when they come to India. They have got three games before the World Cup against India. So, they will have a bit more of a full-strength squad there, that might tell us a bit about where they are at,” Gilchrist remarked concerning the Australian team’s prospects.
Notably, India have secured the ODI World Cup trophy on two occasions, with Kapil Dev leading the charge in 1983 and MS Dhoni repeating the feat in 2011. Likewise, Pakistan and England each have a single championship to their names, with Pakistan emerging victorious in 1992 and England claiming the title in 2019.
In contrast, Australia proudly hold the distinction of being the most successful team in World Cup history, having clinched the coveted trophy five times. Their triumphs were achieved in 1987 and an unprecedented three consecutive victories in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Australia’s most recent World Cup conquest took place in 2015.
