Ravichandran Ashwin picks this team to win 2023 World Cup trophy, and it’s not India!

Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s number one-ranked test bowler in the current ICC rankings, is not only one of the finest cricketers across the world, but he is also a keen observer. Every now and then, Ashwin enlightens his fans and cricket pundits with his different perspective. With the World Cup 2023 just two months away, Ashwin shared his views on the marquee event and said that it is a well-planned strategy of the opposition teams when they say that India is the favorite team to win the cup, but actually they deliberately do it to put pressure on the home team. Ashwin added that by doing this, they actually reduce the pressure on themselves and pile it up on Team India.

In the latest development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the revised schedule for the upcoming World Cup in India. The penultimate clash of the event between India and Pakistan, originally slated to take place in Ahmedabad on Sunday, October 15, has been moved a day earlier and will now be held at the same venue on Saturday, October 14.

India’s chances are looking good in this World Cup, as the last three editions of the tournament have been won by the host nations: India in 2011, Australia in 2015, and England in 2019. However, Ashwin believes that Australia are the favourites to win the title this time, as they have won the trophy five times and have enough firepower to claim it again.

“Going into the ODI World Cup, Australia are one of the favourites. I know people around the world cricket will keep saying India are favourites — in fact, all the cricketers around the world will use this as a strategy and say India are favourites before every ICC event. They use this strategy to reduce the pressure on themselves and put extra pressure on us. India could well be one of the favourites, but Australia also are a powerhouse,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Considering the recent developments, Australia are looking in a good position to win the cup, as they have won two world titles in the last two years, with their maiden T20 World Cup trophy in 2021 and then the World Test Championship title, where they trounced India in England. Australia have already announced a provisional 18-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.