Indian supporters still recall the tenacity displayed by the Sourav Ganguly team during the 2003 ODI World Cup. They easily advanced to the finals, where a strong Australian team defeated them. The desire to persist with a core group of players for the few series that preceded the championship match was one of the defining characteristics of the Indian squad at the time. Young people like Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, and other individuals were given several opportunities and full support.
Ganguly observed that India tends to chop and alter more than it ought to in modern times. He used examples from the 2003 World Cup team and Australia, who dominated international cricket in the early 2000s, to emphasize the importance of sticking with a stable lineup before big events. In a similar vein, the former BCCI president suggested that India play the World Cup with the same group of players that are currently on the roster for the Asia Cup.
“We had a predetermined lineup. The most significant factor is that. By that point, we had started to succeed and were a really strong team. We were singing. We had some outstanding athletes. I constantly tell people not to chop and change before a big tournament because of this. Have a group of players stick together for a year, whether they win or lose, and let them prepare as a team, remarked Sourav Ganguly on ‘Backstage With Boria’.
For the years between 1999 and 2003, Australia did not chop and change, which is why they were so good. We had won everything for that one year in 2003. With the exception of the hiccup against New Zealand on those fields, we won in the West Indies, the Natwest, and everything else. We made a strong team when we travelled to South Africa.
Because of this, it’s crucial that we have our 14—the same 14–15 that will compete in the World Cup—by the Asia Cup. It is crucial that you are aware of your combination and avoid making last-minute changes, he continued.
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s fitness is a concern for Rohit Sharma and company. Both athletes have recovered from their wounds. Rahul is expected to miss the opening two Asia Cup games. In his absence, the team’s makeup may drastically change because India would need to make room for Ishan Kishan.
The left-hander’s issue is that he has always performed flawlessly at the top of the order but has struggled in the middle. India will have to defeat the productive opening pair of Rohit and Shubman Gill if they decide to start with the southpaw. As a result, there are many uncertainties for the seven-time Asia Cup champions as they get ready to play Pakistan, their bitter rivals, on September 2.
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