Cup race wide open, says Kohli
Eleven weeks out from the Cricket World Cup and the title race is as wide open as ever.
Beaten Indian captain Virat Kohli thinks so, after his side was upset 3-2 at home by Australia who stormed to a 35-run victory in the Delhi one-day international series decider yesterday.
As Australia get set to welcome back banned duo Steve Smith and David Warner into their ODI calculations, their victory inspired by opener Usman Khawaja, speedster Pat Cummins and legspinner Adam Zampawas a telling statement.
Having looked in serious strife a few months back, Australia’s cup defence is nowhere near the lost cause it once appeared.
Kohli, whose team won an ODI series in Australia and then hammered the Black Caps 4-1 in New Zealand to stamp their cup favouritism alongside England, believed there were no standouts ahead of the UK tournament starting on May 30.
‘‘Honestly, every team at the World Cup is a threat. Anyone who gets on a roll at a World Cup, it’s very, very difficult to stop that team,’’ Kohli told reporters.
‘‘Having said that, any team who’s on a roll can be knocked out in the semis . . . they can be defeated by a side that’s more brave on that particular day.
‘‘I don’t think any team starts the World Cup as favourites. Any team is dangerous. You see how the West Indies has come along. They are going to be a serious threat at the World Cup as well because of the balance that they’ve been able to crack.
‘‘England has been a very strong side, Australia is now looking balanced, we are a strong side, New Zealand is good, Pakistan can defeat anyone on their day.’’
Khawaja scored 100 in Australia’s total of 272-9.
India crashed to 132-6 in response and were bowled out for 237, marking the first time Australia have battled back from 2-0 down to win a five-match bilateral ODI series.
The three confidence-building victories came after Australia had won just four of their past 26 completed one-dayers.