Indian Player Ravichandran Ashwin suggests that cricketers from other countries call India their favorites in the World Cup 2023 which is hosted by India to put extra pressure on the team.
Experts Tagging India as Favourites For World Cup 2023
Ravichandran Ashwin had an interesting point to make regarding the favorites of India ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. It is common for experts and cricketers to hail the Indian cricket team as favorites ahead of major International Cricket Council tournaments.
It is no different for the ODI World Cup 2023 and considering the fact that India is a host of the big event most fans are counting them as the champions for the game.
But Ravichandran Ashwin has a point from an interesting angle for considering India as a favorite. He believes that it will be the tactics used by cricketers around the world to reduce the pressure on themselves and put the Indian team under the lights.
“I know people around the world of cricket will keep saying India is our favorite. In fact, all the cricketers around the world will use this as a strategy and say India is a favorite before every ICC event.
They use this strategy to reduce the pressure on themselves and put extra pressure on us. India could be one of the favorites,” Ashwin said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
“But Australia is also a powerhouse. We spoke about the second ODI loss in Barbados. I mentioned that we should back Team India and send them pressure free to the World Cup.
Most of them agreed but some of them were like, ‘Looks like he is already being cautious about what will happen if Team India doesn’t win and blaming everything on the fans’.”
“See we should realize that one cannot shift the blame on the fans. I also understand. What I meant was that fans are the most important stakeholders of the team. Fans can change the entire vibe of a cricket match.
Every time the home team is having that momentum, it will be really difficult for the away team when the support is huge.
That is exactly what I am saying. See, right from the moment the other teams reach the airport or hotels, I know we are always welcoming as hosts and we should be loud and clear,” he added.
Ashwin said that even in the IPL, opponent teams can feel down by the support for the home team in cities like Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai.
“During IPL, I will go to Wankhede, Chinnaswamy, and Chepuak, to play against MI, RCB, and CSK. To go to their home venues and see the support of their fans can be intimidating as an opponent.
Every time that the home team is having that momentum, it will be really difficult for the away team when the support is huge.”
CHECK: ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 Live Streaming For All Location
But putting up the pressure on the Indian side will be making the required results for India. Apart from them, Australia will also have the chance to lift the trophy.
Ashwin said, “Going into the ODI World Cup, Australia are one of the favorites. I know people around the world cricket will keep saying India are favorites.
In fact, all cricketers around the world will use this as a strategy and say India is a favorite before every ICC event. They use this strategy to reduce the pressure on themselves and put extra pressure on us. India could be one of the favorites, but Australia also is a powerhouse.”
