Sunil Gavaskar does not consider India favourite to win World Cup 2019

It is not easy to pick a favourite team to win the World Cup for in a one-day game, the side that plays better cricket consistently wins. However, it is not uncommon that supporters of every team want to see their respective team lift the title, defeating everybody else. India is among those teams that are being seen as probable winners of this year’s WC in England and Wales although legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar feels there is one side that has a better chance than even his own country in the mega event.

The upcoming edition of the quadrennial tournament – the 12th since 1975 – will feature 10 teams (this is the first time that not all Test-playing nations are playing the WC) who will play against each other on a round-robin basis with the top four point-getters qualifying for the semi-finals. Going by the current form and ICC ranking hosts England and India are among the top contenders and Gavaskar feels it is England who have an edge.

The Three Lions, who are hosting the World Cup for the fifth time, have never lifted the title and lost in three finals (against West Indies in 1979; against Australia in 1987 and Pakistan in 1992). However, the English side has made a remarkable turnaround since their humiliating exit from the WC in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 and is one of the best teams in the ODI format in the last four years.

Hosts have won WCs in the last two editions

According to Gavaskar, 69, the home conditions will make it suitable for England even more. “If you go by the history of last two or three World Cups, in 2011 the host nation India won, in 2015 host nation Australia won. In 2019, there is a very good chance that England will win the World Cup,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.com during his visit at the British High Commissioner’s residence on Tuesday. “There is a very good chance they (England) will win the World Cup.”

The UK High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith also pinned hope on the England team repeating the feat of the English women’s team in 2017. That year, the England women’s team won the WC at home defeating India by 9 runs in the final.

England will be playing the inaugural match of the WC against South Africa at the Oval on May 30. India will also play their first game against the same opponents I Southampton on June 5. The final will be played at the Lord’s on July 14.

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