As the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023 approaches, cricket fans worldwide prepare for an entertaining competition. This year is unique because India will host the World Cup in its entirety, after previously co-hosting the tournament in 1987, 1996, and 2011. The 2011 World Cup has a special place in the hearts of Indian cricket fans since it was won by the Men in Blue under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Many players have made important contributions to India’s success in global cricketing competitions throughout the years, with names like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, and others etched in World Cup history.
Sreesanth Picks His All-Time India XI For World Cup:
Sreesanth’s India All-Time ODI World Cup XI
In an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda, former India fast bowler S Sreesanth took on the task of picking his all-time ODI World Cup XI for Team India. Sreesanth’s XI is a fantasy team comprised of Indian cricket luminaries. Let’s take a closer look at this powerful squad.
Sreesanth started with the openers, picking current Indian captain Rohit Sharma and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar is the top run-scorer for India in World Cups, with 2278 runs in 44 innings, including six hundreds. Rohit is another strong performer in the world arena, having scored 978 runs in 17 games, including six hundreds.
Virat Kohli slots in the key No. 3 position, recognising his consistency and performance in One-Day Internationals. Kohli has been a rock of strength in India’s World Cup campaigns, scoring 1030 runs.
The Mighty Middle Order
Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni formed a strong middle order for Sreesanth. Ganguly and Dhoni have played key roles in India’s World Cup triumphs. With 1006 runs and 780 runs, Ganguly and Dhoni have made huge contributions to India’s victory.
The Inspiring Leader
When it came to choosing the team’s captain, Sreesanth chose Kapil Dev, the former India captain under whose leadership India won the 1983 World Cup. Kapil, who has 669 runs and 28 wickets in World Cups, is a famous player in Indian cricket history. His leadership and all-round skills make him the perfect captain for this fantasy squad.
Bowling Attack Balance
Sreesanth put up a balanced bowling arsenal with two spinners and two pacers. Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were picked as spinners. Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble have been masters of spin, taking 20 and 31 wickets in World Cups, respectively.
The pace pair consists of Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan. Zaheer has the distinction of being India’s top wicket-taker in World Cups, with 44 wickets in 23 games. Their ability to swing the ball and take important wickets has been critical to India’s success in ODIs.
The Twelfth Man
Pragyan Ojha was chosen as the squad’s 12th member by Sreesanth. With his left-arm spin, Ojha diversifies the bowling choices and maybe a key asset in certain match scenarios.
S Sreesanth’s all-time ODI World Cup XI for India is a powerful squad that includes the cream of Indian cricket. This side has the potential to dominate the ODI World Cup 2023, with a powerful opening duo, a good middle order, an inspiring skipper, and a balanced bowling attack. While cricket fans anticipate the event with bated breath, the legacy of these famous players continues to inspire the new generation of cricketers.
