ICC World Cup 2019: 5 bold predictions for the showpiece event
The countdown for the world's biggest cricketing carnival has begun. Soon, 10 of the finest ODI teams will take on each other in the race to be crowned as the World Champions.
Set to be flagged off on 30 May in England, the ICC World Cup 2019 has already sent the fans into a frenzy, bringing back the memories of the previous championships.
From stunning milestones to unforgettable upsets, the World Cup tournaments have seen them all. Be it India's inspiring triumph in 1983, Imran Khan's heroics in 1992, Sri Lanka's rise in 1996, Adam Gilchrist's blitzkrieg in 2007, or even Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill's double tons in 2015, there have been several timeless moments that have been etched in the fans' memories.
This year's World Cup looks to be no different. As we gear up for a season of jaw-dropping feats and astonishing glories, here are 5 bold predictions for cricket's showpiece event in 2019.
#5 West Indies to be the dark horses
Winning the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, West Indies used to reign supreme as the mightiest force in one-day cricket. Fast forward four decades: the team is now ranked eighth in the world, and mired in poor form and several unnecessary controversies.
Talk about the favourites to clinch the title this year and the likes of England, India and Australia would immediately emerge as the front-runners. However, entering the competition with not many expectations on them, West Indies can certainly prove to be the dark horses.
While the names Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis and Kemar Roach can strike fear in any opponent, the likes of Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Darren Bravo are talents that are too good to not pay heed to.
Known to bring in an exciting flavor into world tournaments, the Windies would look to shed their tag of "underdogs" and cause plenty of surprises with some power-packed performances.