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Tom Latham, Rohit Sharma & Ross Taylor
Team India are considered one of the main contenders to win the 2023 ODI World Cup. When India last hosted the quadrennial event in 2011, MS Dhoni and Co. lifted the coveted title for the second time. With the Men in Blue holding the same advantage this time around, many believe that Rohit Sharma's men will emerge victorious. Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor is one of those believers.
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India has done well in the tournament so far, winning four out of four matches. New Zealand - the table toppers - are the other team to have an unbeaten run so far. Interestingly, the winning streak of one of these teams will come to an end on Sunday (October 22) when the two meet at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Meanwhile, Taylor believes India are favourite to win the World Cup regardless of Sunday's result. The veteran batter said that India are a different beast at home and they have brought their campaign into high gear.
"India in their home conditions are a different beast and they have started unsurprisingly strongly – I see them as favourites to win the competition at this stage, no matter what happens in Dharamshala tomorrow," Taylor said in his column on the ICC's website.
I think NZ will thrive in that atmosphere: Taylor
Taylor pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been brilliant for the team. He is also impressed with India's batting line-up as all the top 5 are in great touch. However, the 39-year-old feels that New Zealand can put pressure on India's middle order if the pacers can pick up early wickets.
"Jasprit Bumrah has led the attack brilliantly, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Jadeja are bowling really nicely and their top three have been fantastic for a long time. You can’t expect your top three to score runs all the time but they also now seem to have found a nice combination at four and five with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. New Zealand will need early wickets to put that middle order under pressure," said Taylor
"The crowd will naturally play a part but I think New Zealand will thrive in that atmosphere. Every time you come here, you play in front of full crowds and you know you’ll be up against it," he added.