Cricket enthusiasts around the globe are eagerly anticipating the commencement of the 2023 ODI World Cup, and the cricketing world was abuzz when the legendary South African cricketer, Dale Steyn, lent his insights into the potential finalists of this prestigious tournament. Steyn, renowned for his profound cricketing acumen and analytical prowess, has ignited fervor among cricket fans with his predictions.
In a recent interview with Star Sports, Steyn delved into the forthcoming ODI World Cup, slated to take place in India. The former South African pace sensation, boasting an illustrious cricketing career, shared his thoughts on the front-runners to grace the pinnacle of the competition.
Steyn’s yearning to witness his homeland, South Africa, make it to the final was palpable. He underscored South Africa’s advantage, given that many of its players regularly participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are well-acquainted with the nuances of Indian playing conditions. Steyn singled out pivotal players like David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, and Kagiso Rabada, who have excelled under Indian conditions and possess the potential to make a profound impact.
“It’s a tough one, you know my heart wants to go with South Africa making the final. I would love them to make the final, their team, a lot of their players play in the IPL, they play in India regularly. They got some guys like in David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen who really started to figure out those conditions and bat well there. Then, there is KG Rabada who has been bowling there for ages and a lot of their other senior players have played a lot of cricket there. So I feel like they have got the ability to go on and get to the finals with getting those players,” Dale Steyn was quoted as saying to Star Sports.
Steyn also recognized that the host nation, India, stands as a formidable contender, given their deep-rooted cricketing legacy and thorough familiarity with the home turf. Sporting a roster brimming with seasoned IPL performers, Team India garners widespread acclaim as one of the prime contenders poised to secure a coveted spot in the final showdown.
Furthermore, Steyn highlighted England as another prospective finalist in the tournament.
“Yeah, I feel like the favourites would probably be India, I feel like India is going to be one of the finalists, and probably England. But my heart wants to say South Africa and India but I am kind of leaning towards India and England,” the former Proteas pacer star added.
Recent displays of prowess by the English cricket team, showcased through their well-rounded batting and bowling prowess, have firmly established them as a formidable entity in the realm of limited-overs cricket. As the defending champions, they are set to kick off their World Cup journey by facing the previous edition’s runners-up, New Zealand.