Mumbai: India making it to the semifinal is a sure shot,” is what the former Indian skipper and the chief of the selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar prediction so India’s campaign in the forth coming ICC World Cup. Talking to Free Pres Journal, Vengsarkar stated India have a very good chance of making the last four and if they do well thereafter they will win the cup,” said former skipper of the Kohli-led side whicgh looks formidable.
India begin their campaign against South Africa in their opener on June 5 at Southampton, in the championship which kicks off on May 30 in England. “India has got a fantastic chance to win the World Cup. At-least last four they will go definitely. But the final, I can’t predict to be honest. But we have got extreme potential and all the players are (in) good form,” he said about the India’s campaign in this championship.
Vengsarkar, who is the mentor of the T20 Mumbai League, was speaking after the organisers Mumbai Cricket Association announced its second edition which will begin from May 14. League’s ambassador Sachin Tendulkar and mentor Sunil Gavaskar were also present.
Tendulkar too praised the League.
“T20 Mumbai League is soon going to be a league that most of the players from across the nation will want to participate in. For so many years, the (way) Ranji Trophy team has played, if given a choice a number of players would have wanted to be part of Mumbai Ranji Trophy because the brand of cricket was different and everyone wanted to be part of it,” said Tendulkar. Tendulkar also said Mumbai still has enough talent.
“I don’t think we are down in the dumps at all. There have been occasions where we have gone to the semis and final (in the Ranji Trophy). I feel with this T20 League’s performance, as Mr (Sunil) Gavaskar put it correctly, a number of careers started.
“I think it’s a beginning when we compare ourselves to someone like Punjab who has 14 players playing for various teams,” he said. Gavaskar urged the MCA authorities to schedule the league before the IPL auction.
“Shivam Dube got an IPL contract after (playing in T20 Mumbai League), Suryakumar Yadav also got a big contract and I am pretty certain that there will be many more coming from this league, who will be wanted by the IPL franchises for the next season,” said Gavaskar.
