Veteran India wicket-keeping batter Dinesh Karthik has called the current team the best Indian ODI side ever. The Men in Blue are all set to take on the Netherlands in their final World Cup 2023 group-stage match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 12.
Karthik said this is probably India’s strongest-ever team in ODIs, stressing that no Indian team has dominated in the World Cups like this one. India has won all its eight matches in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and sit atop the points table.
“I’m going out on a limb to say this but this Indian team is probably the strongest team that India has ever had in ODIs. In World Cups for sure. There’s no Indian team that has dominated like this current 2023 team. You have to pit it against other Indian teams which have done very well but it will run other teams very close to it being the greatest ODI team ever in terms of performances and pressure,” said Karthik.
Talking about the semi-finals, Karthik said that India will have to make a big decision at the toss since the ball will move in the powerplay in Mumbai. India will most probably face New Zealand in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan still remain in the hunt for the last semi-final spot.
“It’s in Mumbai, the first big decision, if they win the toss, will be if they would bat first or bowl first because there will be dew but then they will have to get past that first spell. The first 10 overs the ball swings and moves. There’s no question what the level is going to be till the finals. It’s going to be the same XI. Every players has ticked the box and is looking good for the semis,” Karthik added.
