‘Can't bullishly say India would qualify': Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill-led India's WTC final chances for 2025-27 cycle
India gained 28 points from two wins and a draw, thus standing with 46.67 PCT after their first series of the new cycle. India reached the finals of WTC for its first two iterations, where they lost to New Zealand in the 2019-21 finals and before being handed a loss by Australia in the 2021-23 finals. For the 2023-25 cycle, South Africa and Australia reached the summit clash, where the Proteas ended their 27-year drought for an ICC trophy by beating the Aussies.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes India, after missing out on making the finals in the previous cycle, will be a prime contender to reach the finals this time. However, he also said one can't be too bullish about India's chances, considering the side is going through a period of transition. Many big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteswar Pujara, Ravinchandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami have either retired from this format or are being phased out from the national side.
'India's home series are against Australia, the West Indies and South Africa. I feel we will win all three of these series. We will win against the West Indies and South Africa, although it might not be that straightforward as we are also going through a transition, and beat Australia as well,' Chopra said on this YouTube channel.
'One of our away series is against Sri Lanka. I am expecting us to garner a lot of points there. New Zealand is tough. I think we should be okay. We will once again be in the running. We will be in the top three or four. Of course, since we are going through a transition, you cannot bullishly say that India would qualify for sure, but I consider India to be a strong contender,' he added.
India will host Australia for the five-match Test series and will take on West Indies and South Africa at home. The away series will be against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Apart from India, Chopra said Australia, Sri Lanka and most surprisingly Pakistan have good chances of making it into the finals after having a favourable schedule at home. 'Pakistan's home series are against New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. They should actually be okay. Pakistan should do well at home, unless they start making roads. Their away series are against England, the West Indies and Bangladesh,' said Chopra.
'Pakistan have a favorable draw again. Win in the West Indies and Bangladesh, compete a little in England, and beat Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa at home. Pakistan have a good chance. However, I have said that about Pakistan earlier as well when their away series were in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, they didn't win a single series at home,' he added.
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