World Cup 2023: Ravichandran Ashwin – Another World Cup is around the corner, and India are firm favorites to win the Cup yet again. It has been the case with the Indian team for the last decade. However, Ravichandran Ashwin feels it is a strategy used by the opposing team to ease some pressure from the shoulders. During Jacques Kallis AB de Villers era, South Africa were also always labeled favorites tag however, they are yet to win the elusive trophy.
Almost all excerpts have picked Rohit Sharma & Co to make the semi-final stage of the ODI World Cup 2023. Since it is also a home WC, the pressure is also huge on India to break the 10-year-old trophy drought.
“I know people around the world of cricket will keep saying India are favorite. All the cricketers worldwide will use this as a strategy and say India are favourites before every ICC event,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
“They use this strategy to reduce their pressure and put extra pressure on us. India could be one of the favorites,” he added.
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World Cup 2023: Ashwin snubs England, picks Australia as favorites to win WC 2023
England may be defending champions, but Ashwin has picked Australia as one of the contenders to win the trophy. Australia last won the WC in 2015 and reached the semis during the last edition of the showpiece event.
This year also, the five-time champions are contenders to lift the WC as they have all bases covered. “But Australia are 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 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’.
The off-spinner also spoke about performing as per the expectations of fans. Ashwin opines that they are the heartbeat of team India and stand through thick and thin.
“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,” Ashwin concluded.
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