The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 has undeniably set the cricketing world abuzz, igniting passions and emotions with each riveting match, delivering unexpected upsets, and showcasing extraordinary performances on the grandest stage.
Amongst this captivating spectacle, the former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, a name synonymous with explosive batting prowess and extraordinary fielding, has bestowed his wisdom upon the cricketing fraternity.
With his keen eye and profound understanding of the game, De Villiers has singled out two formidable teams whom he believes possess the potential to seize the highly coveted World Cup title, adding a layer of anticipation and intrigue to an already enthralling tournament.
AB de Villiers’ first favourite team
In a video shared by ICC, De Villiers’ named his first favourite team to clinch the ODI World Cup 2023, and that is none other than his homeside, South Africa. With a stellar cricketing career that saw him don the Proteas jersey and mesmerize fans worldwide, the 39-year old’s loyalty to his nation is unwavering. South Africa’s remarkable performance in the tournament reinforces his faith in their abilities, as they stand as strong contenders to hoist the coveted title.
In the ongoing tournament, South Africa have played seven matches so far and their impressive six wins and just one loss underscores their dominance and determination on the world stage.
AB de Villiers’ second favourite team
De Villiers’ second choice to clinch the prestigious World Cup trophy is the host nation, India. The right-handed batting maestro went on to provide a detailed analysis of the myriad factors that have led him to believe in the Men in Blue’s potential to triumph in the ongoing edition of the ODI World Cup.
“They ‘re definitely my second team (India), if South Africa don’t win, i want them to win. They’re just favourites because they’ve got an all-around really, really good team. A great team. There are lot of match winners. They understand the conditions well. They’re playing in front of their home crowd. It’s 2011 all over again. I can see those candles being lit up at the stadium, everyone waving their cellphones, everything is falling into place except for the fact that sport doesn’t work like that always,” De Villiers mentioned in his comments.
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Additionally, the Pretoria-born cricketer acknowledged the unpredictable nature of cricket, a quality that has always kept the sport intriguing and thrilling.
“That’s the flip side. There’s pressure of what if? Maybe there’s an injury, maybe we just slip up on the wrong day. There’s so many things that can happen in sport and that’s the beauty of the game that we play. It’s not predictable. Even though the odds look really strong on India’s favour, anything can happen on the day. But yes, they are favourites, playing great cricket, there’s lots of reasons to think they’re going to win the World Cup,” De Villiers added.