‘Teams will know each other well’ - Marcus Stoinis on how India tour before World Cup will help Australia prepare better

The much-anticipated ODI World Cup 2023 is right around the corner. Hosted completely by India, the marquee event will begin on October 5 with England taking on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the tournament all set to begin, every eye will be on Team India’s first game.

The hosts take on a mammoth challenge, facing Australia on October 8 in Chennai. Kicking off their tournament by taking on one of the best sides in world cricket, the fans would lie in wait for the spectacle of a game that is on the cards. 

However, a similar kind of pressure would be felt by the Aussies, who will take on the hosts of the tournament. With little over a month left until the start of the World Cup, star Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis came forward to talk about the grueling assignment of facing India in their very first game.

"Leading into the tournament, we got a tour to India, where we played three ODIs, so the teams will know each other well. Being one of the first games of the tournament, playing each other early will help, and it will be a good chance for both sides to set the tone for the competition. It’s a long World Cup, nine rounds, and I think that getting a few big wins early would be the way that everyone wants to start," Marcus Stoinis said in an interview with Revsportz.

He has figured out what his best version is: Stoinis on Virat Kohli

Furthermore, Stoinis was asked about how good Indian star batter Virat Kohli is, in his opinion. Replying to the question, Stoinis stated that there are very few players in cricket history with the skills that Kohli possesses. He opined that Kohli is a player who understands himself and the Australian all-rounder showered Kohli with massive praise. 

"His skills are as good as we have seen, probably forever in the history of cricket, but what sets him apart for me is that he brings his energy and passion to absolutely every game of cricket that he plays. He has figured out what his best version is in terms of performance, and it seems like he can channel and bring that energy every single game," Stoinis said.