Former skipper Sourav Ganguly is confident of India’s chances in the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup in England but believes that the round-robin format will make it a very open tournament.
“I am very, very confident in our squad and I think Indian cricket will always be strong,” the Delhi Capitals mentor said on Tuesday.
“This team under Virat (Kohli)is a very strong team. And a team which has players like Kohli, Rohit (Sharma), (Shikhar) Dhawan, (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Hardik) Pandya or M. S. Dhoni has to be a side to watch out for,” he added.
The upcoming World Cup sees the 10 qualified teams take on each other in a round-robin format before the top four sides advance to the semi-finals. Ganguly, who led India to a runner-up finish in the 2003 edition, feels that the format will bring the best out of all the 10 competing teams.
“It will be a fantastic World Cup. There are no easy names. This format was put into play last time in 1992 when everyone played everyone and the best ones went on to qualify. This format will bring the best out of everyone,” he stated.
Ganguly and India skipper Virat Kohli.
“They are all strong teams. A couple of years ago it was different. Now, West Indies is strong. Australia is back to where they were. India is strong… New Zealand is strong.”
Ganguly also refused to rule out the chances of India’s arch-rivals Pakistan in the World Cup with the former batsman wary of their bowling prowess in English conditions.
“Pakistan always had good bowling skills and it becomes better in England. You see the Champions Trophy (2017 edition). They have gone to a World Cup final, too, in England,” the former India skipper said.
The Delhi Capitals team mentor also had words of consolation for young wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant who failed to make the cut for India’s 15-man World Cup squad.
“He (Pant) will play many more World Cups. This is just the beginning; he shouldn’t worry,” Ganguly remarked.