Team India has had a disappointing start to their World Cup preparations with both of their warm-up matches being washed out due to persistent rain. The Men in Blue missed the valuable opportunity to gain some match practice ahead of the official World Cup games. India had initially scheduled two warm-up matches, but both were abandoned due to inclement weather.
India’s first warm-up game against England saw them winning the toss and choosing to bat, but unfortunately, the rain never relented, and the match could not commence. The second warm-up fixture against the Netherlands, scheduled for October 3, also suffered the same fate, falling victim to the rain. India had hoped to use these matches to experiment with players and fine-tune their skills, but the weather had other plans.
Now, India will have to rely on their practice sessions to build confidence ahead of their first ODI World Cup match against Australia on October 8.
India can draw inspiration from their recent ODI series victory against Australia, where they triumphed 2-1. During the series, key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer displayed exceptional performances, particularly in the top order. India’s bowling and all-round capabilities have also been impressive, with Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya making significant contributions. In the bowling department, the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah have shone brightly.
India can also find comfort in the fact that the World Cup is being played on home turf, offering them a potential advantage. With their top-quality players and recent performances, India enters the ODI World Cup in 2023 as one of the favorites to contend for the title, especially with the added advantage of playing in familiar conditions. The last ODI World Cup in 2019 was won by England, but India’s strong team and home advantage make them a formidable force in the upcoming tournament.
