Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag feels that Indian cricket team, led by Virat Kohli, will be the favourite to lift next year’s ODI World Cup in England. India has improved as a bowling unit in the recent past and their batting has been a force to reckon with, which has led Sehwag to predict that India would also win their first overseas test series when they tour Australia later this year.
“The kind of ODI team we have, we are favourites to win the 2019 World Cup. Don’t you believe it? Absolutely (we are favourites),” Sehwag said during a promotional event.
The Nawab of Najafgarh also said that India possess of a perfect combination in batting and bowling department, an affluence they never had in Sourav Ganguly term.
“This team has capability to win the Test series outside India with the kind of bowling and batting we have. We just missed to win the Test series in South Africa or else we could have created history.”
“In our days, we had Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Ashish Nehra but these four never played together except in 2003. When we made the final as either one of them was injured. This team has lot more capability and can deliver in any conditions.”
Senior players like David Warner and Steve Smith are facing a ban of one year which may better India’s chances to give Australians the heat down under at their own backyard. However Sehwag feels that the absence or presence of these players won’t matter.
“It does not matter, if they are with the team or not. Even then we will win.”
Sehwag also recalled the days when India won the inaugural T20 World Cup under the leadership of young MS Dhoni and termed it as one of his best memories.
