For the team to beat, it’s time to atone for past failures

India's Quest for Redemption in the ICC ODI World Cup

India, the team to beat, is looking to atone for past failures in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup. Their record in the tournament is enviable, with 17 wins in the last 20 ODIs in an ICC event since the 2017 CT final – most wins for any team in the timeframe.

The Past Haunts

India's past failures in the tournament are a reminder of what could have been. In 2017, a near-flawless campaign was ruined by a single poor delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. In 2019, MS Dhoni's slow second run cost India the match against New Zealand. Similarly, in 2023, a bad batting session ruined a tournament of near-invincible aura.

The Present

Cut to the present, and India is once again the team to beat. With a strong squad, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, they will be the centre of global attention in Dubai. The world and Pakistan will be glued to March 23, when the teams clash, but Rohit Sharma's focus will be on March 9, the day of the final.

Squad

• Rohit Sharma (c)
• Shubman Gill
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• KL Rahul
• Rishabh Pant
• Hardik Pandya
• Axar Patel
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Harshit Rana
• Mohammed Shami
• Arshdeep Singh
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Varun Chakaravarthy

Key Absence

The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the world currently, is a significant blow to the team. However, Rohit Sharma has a knack for carrying the right personnel to a global competition.

Schedule

• February 20: vs Bangladesh, Dubai
• February 23: vs Pakistan, Dubai
• March 2: vs New Zealand, Dubai

Home Advantage

The fact that India play all their games on the same ground is an advantage. However, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) has not been a particularly happy hunting venue for the Indian teams in recent times.