'India Are Going to be Extremely Hard to Beat': AUS Legend Makes Bold Prediction About World Cup Winner

Team India is aiming to end the decade-long drought of ICC trophies as they compete in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the hosts made a bright start to their campaign with emphatic triumphs over Australia, Afghanistan and arch-rivals Pakistan. The three victories on the trot have brushed aside concerns over how the hosts would deal under pressure in the showpiece event, that too, in front of the home crowd.

Meanwhile, former world champion and Australian legend Ricky Ponting has heaped massive praise on Rohit Sharma. Speaking with the ICC, the former termed the Indian skipper the key to India rising to the occasion even while surrounded by passionate home support.

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“He’s very laid back, Rohit. Very laid back with everything he does,” Ponting told ICC.

“You can even see that by the way that he plays. He’s a pretty laconic sort of batsman as well, and that’s the way he is both on and off the field.

“We can’t sit back and say that the pressure won’t get to them at some stage, or it won’t affect them, because it will, just with the enormity of the tournament. But he’ll take it and cope with it as well as probably anyone,” he added.

Ponting, the three-time ODI World Cup winner, said opined that Rohit is the ideal leader as India plays the big-ticket tournament on home soil which eventually allows Virat Kohli to focus on his game.

“Someone like Virat, who is a bit more heart-on-the-sleeve, and probably listens to the fans and plays up with the fans a little bit more, someone with his personality would probably find it a bit harder,” Ponting said.

“But I think Rohit will be fine with it. He’s a terrific bloke and has been a great player for a long time, and he’s done a great job as leader of India,” he added.

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India is the team to beat

Ponting further emphasised that Team India is the side to beat in the ongoing tournament.

“I said from the start that I think they’re going to be the team to beat. They’ve got a very talented team,” Ponting said.

“They’ve got all bases covered with their fast bowling, their spin and their top-order, middle-order batting. They’re going to be extremely hard to beat. But we’ll see how they hold up under extreme pressure as well,” he concluded.

India last won the Cricket World Cup when the tournament was held across three countries including their own in 2011.