Former West Indies fast bowler and now a respected commentator Ian Bishop backs the Indian team to do well, and perhaps even end their decade-long ICC title drought in the upcoming World Cup 2023 at home.
The Indian team and its fans have been yearning for an ICC trophy for a decade now. They have suffered heartbreak after heartbreak time and again in this period, having lost multiple finals and semi-finals.
The World Cup 2023 brings a great opportunity to win back the fans’ appreciation and produce scenes as it were the las time India hosted an ODI World Cup in 2011 when MS Dhoni’s team won India their second ODI World Cup trophy.
Why are India favorites for World Cup 2023? Ian Bishop answers
Ian Bishop pointed out two major reasons why he believes India are strong favorites to lift the trophy this time. Bishop, who has worked extensively in India over the years as a commentator, opined that the Indian crowd has the ability to lift up their team and there is no more passionate cricket crowd in the world than in India.
The second reason, and quite an important one, Ian Bishop said that the knowledge of the home conditions that the Indian players have gives them a slight edge over their opponents.
“It helps. It actually does. I can tell you when I played in front of home fans at the Queens Park Oval and they were screaming for me to pick wickets and you weren’t being able to, you wanted the ground to open up and just disappear. But when you have the experience, you know that you can have one bad session but you have the opportunity of coming back. That’s what experience does for you. It helps you a lot on the big stage,” Ian Bishop said on RevSportz.
“I am. Absolutely I am. I am saying knowledge of the conditions gives you a significant advantage. I am not guaranteeing anything, but I am indeed saying that such knowledge is an advantage. While you still have to do the leg work, knowing the conditions will give India an edge going into the World Cup,” the West Indian added.
India will kick-start their World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8 against Australia, followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on October 14. Before that, though, India will feature in the Asia Cup.
