Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed the opinion that if England and India make it to the semifinals of the 2023 World Cup, they will be very difficult to beat. Vaughan believes that India, as the host nation, has a good chance of winning the World Cup, but he sees Rishabh Pant’s absence as the major setback.
India heads into the 2023 World Cup as strong favorites with a winning streak behind them. They secured victory in the Asia Cup 2023 by defeating Sri Lanka in the final, and they continued their success by winning a bilateral ODI series against the Aussies.
In his column for The Telegraph, Vaughan highlighted India’s potential vulnerability due to their lack of left-handed batsmen. However, he also feels that they possess world-class fast bowlers.
Vaughan said,”England and India are the two teams nobody else wants to face in a semi-final. India have everything required to win a World Cup but I would be concerned about the lack of left-handers. They only really have Ravindra Jadeja in that first seven. There is no Rishabh Pant, who is a free spirit, which is a big blow. But the seamers are world class and the spinners, too.”
He further stated,”With India it is always can they cope with the pressure? Just look at the last three World Cups. India won on home soil in 2011, Australia did the same in 2015 and England in 2019. It has been a common trend the home team has gone on to win the World Cup so everyone expects India to do so. I don’t think they will disappoint. Any team who beat India in a semi-final will win the World Cup.”
