Former English skipper, Michael Vaughan, who has previously been one of the biggest critics of India’s strategy in limited-overs cricket, opined that the Men in Blue will be the favorites to win the upcoming World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be staged in India between October and November 2023. Vaughan reckons that India’s attacking batting display in ODI cricket makes them the leading contenders to win the marquee event.
Vaughan’s words of appreciation came in during the third ODI between India and New Zealand. Visitors New Zealand won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first, in what was a dead-rubber game for them. The Men in Blue, have taken in unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, were off to a flying start, thanks to centuries by openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.
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As the duo formed a formidable partnership, Michael Vaughan took to Twitter and wrote: “India finally committing to playing One Day Cricket in the aggressive way makes them Red hot favorites to win the men’s World Cup this year.”
India finally committing to playing One day cricket the aggressive way makes them Red hot favourites to win the men’s World Cup this year .. #INDvNZ
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 24, 2023
In the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Team India has risen to the challenge and taken an extremely strong approach to the format. After the first ODI ended in a high-scoring game, which saw Shubman Gill notching up a double century, the bowlers stole the show in the second ODI and dismissed the visitors for their third-lowest ODI total of 108 runs.
With an aim to complete a clean sweep, the Indian openers, Rohit and Shubman laid a strong foundation for the batters. Hitting boundaries all across the stadium, the duo managed to add as many as 212 runs for the first wicket while also bagging their respective centuries. Rohit ended his three-year-long wait by notching up his 30th ODI ton, whereas Shubman continued his red-hot form with the bat to put up another impressive performance.
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Apart from the two, former India skipper Virat Kohli also looked in the middle as the stylish batter notched up an ODI century against Bangladesh in December 2022, and carried the same momentum against Sri Lanka while repeating similar heroics. Within a span of two months, Kohli managed to amass three ODI tons, thereby strengthening India’s lineup.
