(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The ODI World Cup 2023 is on the horizon and cricket fans and pundits are busy predicting which team could win the title this time around.
India and England are being considered as the favourites by the most, and Stuart Broad echoed similar views, saying that these two sides are the hot contenders the lift the trophy in 2023.
England enter the competition as the defending champions but as per Broad, India are the team to beat, considering that they are the top ODI side and also have home advantage in their favour.
“If England manage to retain their World Cup title, it will be a
phenomenal effort but my overriding feeling is that if India play their
perfect tournament, they are going to be very difficult to stop. Jos
Buttler certainly has the team to challenge, one with the ability to
post high totals, but I just think India, as hosts and the top-ranked
ODI side, will be a hugely difficult proposition to get past,” Broad wrote in his column for the Daily mail.
“Recent
history shows you that home teams tend to prosper in 50-over World
Cups: it was in India in 2011, and India won; the final was in Australia
in 2015, Australia won the trophy; England won in 2019. So, on that
basis alone, India would have to be huge favourites,” he added.
Notably, not too long ago, India were not very ranked highly, but the Asia Cup and the Australia ODI series wins have made them the favourites to again end up as the world champions.
The 2023 World Cup will kick-off on October 5 with the clash between England and New Zealand. India will play their first match versus Australia on October 8.