Ravi Ashwin is probably the best off-spinner in the world: Sourav Ganguly

As the cricketing world braces itself for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled from October 5 to November 19, the anticipation is building. In a recent interview, former India captain and Ex BCCI President Sourav Ganguly offered a glimpse into his thoughts on the much-anticipated event.

Ganguly didn't hold back when asked about India's chances in the tournament. He expressed confidence in the Indian side, citing their impressive recent form and their great victory in crucial Asia Cup.

“India is a very good side, a strong team, and most importantly, they are in very good momentum. The last one and a half month was very good for Team India. They have won the crucial Asia Cup. I am very hopeful,” said Ganguly while speaking to India Today.

Reflecting on India's recent performances in ICC events, Ganguly shared his perspective. He acknowledged that while India have come close in recent years, they haven't clinched an ICC Trophy since 2013. However, he remained optimistic, saying, 

“It happens in the game. India played in the finals in 2017 in England they have lost to Pakistan. 2019 World Cup, India played well but lost in the semi-finals. They are playing well. I hope in this World Cup India will win the important moments, which is very important in World Cup-like tournaments. I hope India will play the finals of the World Cup on the 19th of November in Ahmedabad,” he added.

When asked about the key players to watch in the Indian squad, Ganguly highlighted the brilliance of Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah. He also had words of praise for Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, calling him an outstanding captain.

One of the significant talking points leading up to the World Cup has been the inclusion of Ravi Ashwin in the squad. Ganguly, known for his astute cricketing acumen, lauded the decision, emphasizing the importance of specialists in this format of the game. 

“He is an outstanding spinner. He is probably the best off-spinner in the world. Also, he is the best spinner in India. I always think that in this format specialist is very important in this format. It’s a very good decision. Maybe it is a coincidence as Axar Patel was out for injury. But I think it's a very good decision,” he added.

When it came to assessing the competition, Ganguly picked out England and Australia as formidable foes, considering them stronger than Pakistan. His top four teams for the tournament, including India, were Australia, England, and New Zealand.