AHMEDABAD, India, (Reuters) – Competitors are wary of England’s strength and Eoin Morgan’s men are the favorites to win this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, India captain Virat Kohli said yesterday.
The teams will clash on Friday in the first of the Twenty20 five-match series in Ahmedabad, which takes on greater importance coming in a year at the World Cup.
Morgan and his deputy Jos Buttler have said that India, the host of the October-November tournament, would be the favorites to win the second Twenty20 World title.
Kohli, however, believes that Morgan’s side, which won the 50th World Cup two years ago, deserves that tag.
“I think England will be the team to beat,” the 32-year-old told a news conference.
“They are the number one side in the world and will be the main focus for them in this World Cup.
“All the other teams will be wary of the strengths they bring to the park and every other team would agree with what I say.
“England are the favorites and that won’t change no matter how they think.”
India’s opening champions will undoubtedly have their own ambitions.
Kohli has such a wealth of Twenty20 talents that someone like veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to sit out of the 20-over squad.
“Washington (Sundar) has been doing very well for us. So you can’t have two players of the same discipline playing to the same spot, ”Kohli explained.
“Unless Washy has a really horrible season and things go south for him … where would you add Ash to the team when someone like Washington is already doing that job for the team?”
Kohli also confirmed that Shikhar Dhawan would remain the team’s third opener, with KL Rahul partnering Rohit Sharma at the top.
“KL and Rohit have been consistently performing at the top of the order for us and those two would start,” he said.
“In a situation where Rohit is taking a break, or KL has a niggle or something similar, Shikhar is clearly coming in as the third opener.”