In the world of cricket, where legends are made and moments are etched in history, the current Indian cricket team stands as a testament to unparalleled dominance. This World Cup has witnessed a performance that goes beyond flawless; it’s a cricketing masterpiece.
From the historic underdog victory in 1983 to the favorites in 2011, India’s journey has been nothing short of captivating. Now, in 2023, the Rohit Sharma-led side is rewriting the narrative, drawing comparisons to cricketing juggernauts like the West Indies and Australia.
In every match, India has left a mark that reverberates through the cricketing world. Be it the challenge against New Zealand or the powerhouse performance in the powerplay, this team has showcased unmatched prowess.
Runs from the top order, centuries from the middle, impeccable fielding, and a resilient ‘plan B’—India has ticked every box. Coach Rahul Dravid rightly points out that this team deserves to lift the World Cup trophy.
Australia, a historical powerhouse, finds themselves in an unusual position entering an ICC tournament final as the second-best. Stuart Broad, the legendary English cricketer, boldly predicts India’s victory, stating they would win 95 out of 100 times against Australia.
“India are so powerful in their conditions that I would say they would win this final 95 times out of 100. You only need to look down their line-up to gauge their strength: they’ve got a top six, all of whom can score match-winning hundreds, while any of their bowlers can take a five-for. They’re the only team in the World Cup that you can say that about,” Broad wrote in his column for Daily Mail.
Broad’s confidence in India’s triumph is likened to the magic of Brazil winning in football or Usain Bolt’s dominance in athletics. He emphasizes the marketability of an Indian victory, foreseeing a positive impact on cricket as a whole.
Borad 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. All of athletics’ stakeholders wanted him to win because it leads to bigger sponsorship, bigger TV rights, greater exposure for the sport.”
Broad’s analogy goes beyond sport; it’s about creating magic on the cricket field. An Indian victory would inspire the next generation, similar to the impact of the 2011 triumph.
As the team marches towards glory, Virat Kohli, with 50 ODI centuries, stands on the cusp of history. Stuart Broad believes Kohli deserves a second World Cup win on home soil, surpassing even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
“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,” he added.
