Former England cricketer Stuart Broad has wished for Team India to win the trophy in the 2023 World Cup final on Sunday in Ahmedabad. The veteran right-arm pacer reckons India’s World Cup victory will inspire the next generation as it did last time. However, Team India started as firm favourites ahead of the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They have been undefeated in all 10 matches so far as well and also beat the finalists Australia earlier in the tournament.
In his column for The Daily Mail, Broad wrote: “India winning the World Cup is a bit like Brazil winning football’s equivalent. There is a bit of magic to it. And personally, I think it would be great for the game if India come out on top against Australia in Ahmedabad because it will inspire the next generation of cricket’s powerhouse, just as their 2011 triumph did.”
The veteran also added that Virat Kohli deserves to win another World Cup after reaching his record-breaking 50 ODI centuries. However, Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49 tons against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He reached his 50th ODI ton in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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He added, “An Indian victory is the most marketable outcome for the sport — comparable to when Usain Bolt used to line up for the 100 meters. India are so powerful in their own conditions that I would say they would win this final 95 times out of 100. Given the career Virat Kohli has had, making 50 ODI hundreds, he deserves to be a double World Cup winner in his own country too.”
Meanwhile, Stuart Broad also feels that Australia are the only opponent that can beat the hosts, India and wants them to bowl first should they win the toss as well.
“Australia are probably the only opponents — I would have said Pakistan pre-tournament — that could potentially upset India because they possess the bowling attack to blow the outstanding top order of the side away. Australia’s route to producing a shock in my view is win the toss, bowl, hope the ball nips around and for Mitchell Starc to get it right, hit Rohit Sharma on the shin, and Josh Hazelwood following by nicking off Kohli,” Stuart Broad concluded.
