Anil Kumble Makes Predictions For ICC ODI World Cup 2023; No Pakistan In Semis, Rohit Sharma Leading Run-Scorer

Former Indian Test captain and head coach Anil Kumble has made clear his predictions for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, which is begins today (October 5).

This year's 50-over megaevent will take place over ten sites in India, with a total of ten teams competing for the grand prize. India will begin the event as the world No. 1 squad in all three formats of the game, and they seek to end their decade-long wait for an ICC trophy this year under Rohit Sharma's guidance.

Ahead of the start of the ODI World Cup 2023, where England will face New Zealand in a rematch of the 2019 ODI World Cup final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, 52-year-old Kumble has chosen the four teams that will qualify for the semifinals, as well as the tournament's leading run-getter, wicket-taker, and Most Valuable Player.

Kumble, India's joint-second-leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history, predicted on the ESPNCricinfo show that along with India, England, Australia, and one of New Zealand or South Africa will advance for the semifinals.

Despite the fact that many analysts believe Pakistan to be one of the favourites for the trophy, the former spinner did not put them in his list.

When asked about their predictions on the ESPNCricinfo show, former Australia captain Aaron Finch, opener Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody, South Africa pacer Dale Steyn, New Zealand's Mitchell McClenaghan, India's Deep Dasgupta, Sri Lanka's Farveez Maharoof, and even former Pakistan women's cricketer Urooj Mumtaz Khan did not include Pakistan in their list of four teams that will qualify for the semifinals.

While India and England were common names on all 12 expert lists for the four semifinalists, Finch, Moody, Steyn, Hayden, Kumble, McClenaghan, Deep Dasgupta, Maharoof, and Urooj all picked Australia as the third side to advance to the knockouts.

Only Shane Bond, Steve Harmison, and former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer named Pakistan among the sides that will face Australia in the semi-finals.

Kumble has encouraged Indian captain Rohit Sharma to reprise his heroics from the 2019 World Cup and finish as the tournament's highest run-getter.

Rohit collected 648 runs in nine matches in the 2019 tournament, thanks to five hundreds and one fifty. Apart from Rohit, Kumble mentioned Devon Conway on the list of leading run scorers.

In terms of the leading wicket-taker, Kumble backed paceman Jasprit Bumrah, who made his competitive cricket comeback after nearly 11 months during a three-match T20I series against Ireland in August. The all-time leading wicket-taker for India in international cricket was also asked to pick MVP, and he chose all-rounders, naming Hardik Pandya and England's Moeen Ali.