It’s every captain’s dream to win the World Cup. Going into this World Cup,  Kohli not only has a fine team at his disposal but the cricketing world also believes that Team India can lift the coveted trophy for the third time (“Kohli aims to emulate India’s 2011 feat at World Cup,” May 27, Gulf Today).

The 30-year old skipper is in great form perched on top of the rankings. He has displayed great captaincy skills of late by helping India win its first-ever Test series triumph in Australia in January.

Personally too he carries a stellar batting record of amassing 10,843 runs in 227 one-day international matches, including 41 centuries and 49 fifties. This should hold him in good stead because, as he stated some time back, most matches are likely to be high-scoring  ties and runs will be all that matter at the end of the day. Our bowling division is no less lethal. If Jasprit Bumrah falls short, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal should be able to add some spin to the excitement.

For the young captain it will be a great moment to lift the trophy once again after the 2011 victory on home turf. With legendary Dhoni in the wings, Team India has the fire power to make that dream come true.

But we can’t forget the hosts England, who too are tipped by many to win the Cup for the first time.

With Eoin Morgan’s side climbing to the top of the ICC rankings over the last four years, England will be a force to reckon alongside defending champions Australia. The English side has a formidable batting line-up. Nothing can be taken for granted. I am geared for the excitement.

Vishal Nair
By email