Sunil Gavaskar’s surprise prediction: England emerges as the early favorite for World Cup 2023

Renowned cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has surprised fans with his prediction for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, naming England as his top choice to claim victory once again. The anticipation is high as England, the defending champions, are set to lock horns with the 2019 finalists New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match scheduled for October 5.

In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar expressed his confidence in England’s potential to secure another World Cup win. He attributed their favoritism to the formidable talent that resides at the top of their batting order. He also highlighted the presence of two or three world-class all-rounders who possess the ability to be game-changers with both the bat and the ball. England’s experienced bowling lineup further bolstered their claim as favorites. Gavaskar remarked, “The defending champions, England, because of the kind of talent that they have at the top of the order, the batting order, they’ve got two or three world-class all-rounders who can change the game with both bat and ball.

They’ve also got a very good bowling line-up, an experienced bowling line-up, so at the moment in my book certainly.”

On the other hand, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan offered a different perspective, asserting that India possesses all the necessary qualities to clinch the coveted trophy. He eagerly anticipated India’s performance in the tournament and confidently labeled them as one of the favorites. Pathan’s optimism stemmed from India’s recent successes, including their performance in the Asia Cup and their dominant displays against Australia on home soil.

He praised India’s depth, highlighting the impressive performances of players who often find themselves outside the starting XI. Pathan noted, “I’m very excited to see how India performs and I really think they are one of the favorites, for sure because especially last couple of series, like Asia Cup, and the way India played against Australia as well in the home conditions. I think they are ticking all the boxes.”

Furthermore, Pathan commended India’s bench strength, exemplifying the caliber of players like Mohammed Shami, who may not always feature in the playing XI but are unquestionably world-class talents. This depth, according to Pathan, showcases the strength of the Indian team. India is slated to face Australia in their World Cup opener at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on October 8.

As the excitement builds, cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the clash of these cricketing titans. Both Gavaskar’s and Pathan’s insights have added to the anticipation surrounding the tournament, which promises to deliver thrilling cricketing action. India will also have the opportunity to fine-tune their preparations with warm-up matches against the Netherlands and England before the highly anticipated encounter with Australia.