Last Updated: September 29, 2023, 12:39 IST
![Sourav Ganguly led India to the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. (AFP Photo) Sourav Ganguly led India to the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. (AFP Photo)](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2021/07/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&width=510&height=356)
Sourav Ganguly led India to the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. (AFP Photo)
India open their ODI World Cup campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8.
Sourav Ganguly reckons India’s recent form has been quite good and thinks they need to playing in the same vein to get their hands back on the ICC ODI World Cup trophy. The ODI showpiece is being hosted by India for the first time since 2011 when they won the title for the second time in their history.
India, under Rohit Sharma, are hoping to win their third ODI world cup with the team seem to be peaking at the right team as they showed with their impressive performances during Asia Cup and a three-match ODI series against Australia at home.
Ganguly, a former India captain and BCCI president, is hopeful the team will continue the form they have shown in the lead up to the tournament.
“This is going to be a big World Cup. The World Cup is a big tournament. India has been playing very well, so it is a matter of delight. We hope that they continue to play the same good Cricket for the next 45 days,” Ganguly was quoted as saying in media reports.
India on Thursday announced their final 15-man squad for the world cup with one change. Ravichandran Ashwin, who made his ODI comeback with the Australia series has replaced an injured Axar Patel.
“Axar Patel has failed to recover in time for the World Cup after sustaining a left quadriceps strain during India’s Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Bangladesh. The spin-bowling all-rounder missed the final of the Asia Cup as a result,” ICC said in a media release.
India will open their campaign against five-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 8 in Chennai before taking on Afghanistan in Delhi.
The team will then head to Ahmedabad for a blockbuster meeting with Pakistan on October 14.
The top-four team after the round robin stage will advance to the semifinals and the final will be played on November 19.