India have been instrumental at home in the ODI format losing just 4 out of the 18 series since the 2019 World Cup. They are the firm favorites going into this World Cup. But Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that “India going to be a bit of short-changed” despite being the favorites for the World Cup.
Ashwin said that India play are numerous venues and have to adapt to different conditions at different venues. Whereas, countries like New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and England play at specific 5-6 grounds and are aware of the conditions they play in. He also said that India does not have a standard ODI, Test, or T20 season like other countries.
India are the firm favorites: Ashwin
“India’s ODI home record ever since the 2019 World Cup finished is extremely impressive. India has won against every team that’s traveled to India in this space, which are West Indies, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka. India’s home record is 14-4 in this space [since 2019 World Cup], which is a 78 to 80 percent win record in India. All of these 18 ODIs have happened in different venues every single time (14 venues). If you have to compare the same spree with Australia or England, the venues are pretty stock standard. They play all their Test matches at 4-5 venues, the ODIs are played in 2-3 venues and so they know their venues are the back of their hand,” he said.
India does not have a stock standard Test, ODI or T20I season: Ashwin
“Since 2011 World Cup, all teams have managed to win their home World Cup – India, then Australia in 2015 and England in 2019. This is no rocket science, knowing your conditions is extremely important. However, for India, in this regard is going to be a bit of short-changed because of the number of venues we play these games in. Every single time you play in some of these venues the wickets are going to be different. India does not have a stock standard Test, ODI or T20I season. You don’t know how the FTP is going to pan out but it gets hard from the team or player’s perspective,” he said.
“The four losses that I mentioned have happened in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Lucknow. It’s all evening in the evening. Largely, India have batted first and posted a score that they believe is par and par-plus,” he concluded.
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