Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Team India veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin provided his blunt assessment on the national team’s 10-year trophy drought in the ICC events ahead of the eagerly-anticipated 2023 ODI World Cup. It is no secret that the Men in Blue have struggled during the knockout phases of the ICC events over the last 10 years.
Notably, their last title win came under the leadership of former skipper MS Dhoni, wherein the side went on to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, the side crashed out thrice in the T20 World Cup (2014, 2016, 2022), twice in the ODI World Cup (2015, 2019), two times in the WTC finals (2021, 2023), and once in the Champions Trophy in 2017.
Their most recent defeat in an ICC event came against Australia in the World Test Championship 2021-23 final at The Oval in London. Extending the trophy drought to nearly a decade, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin provided a straight forward response, calling it ‘ridiculous’.
“Of course, the whole social media buzz will be about whether India will be able to get an ICC trophy. We have been following this theme for so many years now of asking, “Can India end the ICC Trophy drought?” If you ask me, this is ridiculous, guys,” Ashwin remarked on his YouTube channel.
India has a great chance this time around: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin further highlighted that team India are usually regarded as the favourites and the forthcoming World Cup will be no different. He added that every team has an equal chance in the ICC events and reiterated that the Men in Blue will ‘start’ as favourites in the mega ICC event slated to be held during October-November.
“India is a strong team. Except for a few factors, India has a great chance this time around. In fact, we went into the 2019 World Cup as strong favourites. But all the teams have had equal chances during every ICC event. If you ask me, any cricket match starts 50:50. But India do start as favourites ahead of this 2023 World Cup,” added Ashwin.