'Will be shocking if...': Shikhar Dhawan makes prediction for ODI World Cup but still has one doubt
Indian star batter Shikhar Dhawan predicts his final four of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 as the tournament is 4 matches away from the knock-outs.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
The ICC One-Day International World Cup 2023 is halfway finished, and all competing countries will be hoping to advance to the semifinals. If you take a look at the standings, you'll see that India is now on top. South Africa sits in second place, ahead of New Zealand in the NRR standings, despite both teams having lost only one of their past five matches. Australia is now in fourth place, and teams are hoping to make a strong showing in their final four matches to qualify for the semifinals.
3 things you need to know
- Team India are undefeated in the tournament so far
- South Africa and New Zealand have only lost one match in the tournament so far
- India will play England next on October 29, 2023
Shikhar Dhawan makes a huge statement on the semifinal spot of the CWC 2023
Veteran Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan has made a perceptive assessment of the fight for semi-final qualifying as the World Cup moves into the second half of the league stage.
India is now in first place and is the only team in the World Cup without a loss. With only one defeat each, South Africa and New Zealand are next in line; what separates them is their net run rates. Australia had a difficult start after losing their opening two games before rallying for three straight wins to secure the fourth position.
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(Virat Kohli after winning the match for India against Pakistan. Image: AP)
Pakistan, on the other hand, dropped to 5th place after suffering three straight losses, including an unexpected setback to Afghanistan. Hashmatullah Shahidi's team follows them. Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands are among the teams at the bottom of the standings, having each only managed one victory.
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Dhawan has predicted that every game has a big impact on the points table and creates fresh opportunities in the competition for the semifinal berths. It would be shocking if any of India, South Africa, or New Zealand were to miss the spot in the semifinal, he said, adding that he is nearly positive they will all advance to the next round. During the Australia-Netherlands game in Delhi, the veteran Indian opener offered his viewpoint and mentioned that the real struggle these days is for the fourth position.
What’s next for Team India?
Rohit Sharma and his team will knock horns against England on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the Ekana Sports City, Lucknow. India will be looking to extend their run against Jos Buttler’s side to increase their chances of qualifying for the final four spots.