World Cup win won't be a cakewalk, Rahul Dravid warns India

On paper, India and England are the best teams in contention for the ICC Cricket World Cup which starts on May 30. While England has the home advantage, the Men In Blue have the talent and confidence that is required in the big tournament. Until they lost the recently concluded five-match home series 3-2 against a visiting Australian side, the Indian team was undoubtedly the favourites to lift the World Cup 2019. 

The defeat was, in fact, a reality check for the Indian team, led by captain Virat Kohli. Former India cricketer and India A coach, Rahul Dravid has the same opinion that the loss against Australia was an eye-opener for the Indian team. This will keep the confidence of the talented brigade in check and also give the Indian team a chance to learn from their mistakes ahead of the World Cup. 

“I think there was a bit of notion that we are going walk there and win the World Cup easily. So it’s a good thing that has happened. What it has (the outcome against Australia) has reminded us is that we have to play the World Cup very, very well,” Dravid was quoted saying in India Today.

“India has performed well in the last couple of years. There was a little bit of talk that we are almost going to walk in there and win the World Cup very easily because we are the No. 1 team and we have been dominating one-day cricket for the last couple of years,” the former captain added.

It’s going to be tough but India will still be favourites, says Dravid

Having said so, Dravid, who scored 10,889 ODI runs in his time and has also led India in a World Cup, has not dismissed India’s chances at the World Cup. He feels India can go all the way to win the World Cup but it will be a tough tournament. “But I don’t find anything strange, from my perspective, watching the series. I still feel that we are going to be one of the favourites. But it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be competitive,” he concluded. 

India, captained by Virat Kohli, will begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa, on June 5 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

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