Usually, ODI World Cups are dominated by consistent white-ball teams – Australia, India, England, and New Zealand. However, World Cups are not just only about strong teams doing their jobs but also about underdogs pulling off a few upsets. Will underdogs pull off a few upsets in the upcoming ODI World Cup?
These underdog teams could get some excellent backing from bettors during the ODI World Cup betting. We analyze the five underdogs at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Five Underdogs In ODI World CupÂ
There will be ten teams at the ODI World Cup 2023. Eight teams had qualified directly, and two teams – Sri Lanka and the Netherlands – made it via the Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. But who could be the underdogs? Let us look at five teams with underdog tags in India.
- Bangladesh
Although there is no clarity on who will lead Bangladesh, we do know that they can be one of the underdogs in this year’s World Cup. The pitches in India are similar to Bangladesh, which will significantly benefit the Tigers. Also, they had an excellent 2019 World Cup campaign, where the Asian nation punched above its weight.
In all likelihood, the team will be led by Shakib Al Hasan, who can be an effective all-rounder for them. They might also have the services of Tamim Iqbal alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed. On these pitches, Shakib Al Hasan can surely turn the game on its head for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh in the 2019 ODI World Cup:
- Beat South Africa by 21 runs
- Lost to New Zealand by two wickets
- Lost to England by 106 runs
- Match Abandoned against Sri Lanka
- Beat West Indies by seven wickets
- Lost to Australia by 48 runs
- Beat Afghanistan by 62 runs
- Lost to India by 28 runs
- Lost to Pakistan by 94 runs
- Sri Lanka
The same goes true for Sri Lanka as well. The conditions in India are similar to Sri Lanka, and they would feel at home. Besides, they sealed the deal after winning the Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, which means they will give it their all to win the trophy.
The team has impact players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, and Dimuth Karunaratne, who can create trouble for the opponent if given free rein. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka pulled off a few upsets, including a win over eventual World Cup champions England.
Sri Lanka has a rich history in the Asia Cup. They played more finals than any other team. Go through the Asia Cup winners list 1984 to 2022.
- Afghanistan
Remember Afghanistan as well; they have also pulled off a few upsets. Some iconic white-ball players like Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have done well on Indian pitches while turning up for their IPL franchises. This familiarity with conditions will undoubtedly help Afghanistan, and they can indeed pull off, if not two, then at least one win over some of the stronger teams.
- Pakistan
And talking about underdogs, how can we not mention Pakistan, who are the eternal underdogs in ODI World Cups? They have the habit of pulling off surprising results and are undoubtedly one of the most exciting teams to watch in the 2023 World Cup.
Pakistan will also have the advantage of playing under similar conditions, plus they have an excellent bunch of players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, who can create trouble for the opposition. They can beat good teams like Australia and India and reach the semi-finals.
- South Africa
All eyes must also be on the Proteas known as the eternal chokers. They might not win the trophy, but they can produce quality cricket in the tournament. South Africa might be contenders for some, but their inability to win ICC trophies has only made them mentally fragile.
South Africa is not among the contenders to win the 2023 World Cup. However, Temba Bavuma’s men can beat big teams like Australia, India, and England on their day. The Proteas fans and neutrals will be pleased if South Africa brings their A-game to India in October.
Concluding Thoughts
The 2023 ODI World Cup will witness some great matches. But the real thrill of the ODI World Cup will be when the so-called underdogs take the field. Imagine Pakistan taking on Australia or Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh; these teams will make the tournament enjoyable to watch. Let’s see if the underdogs can pull off many upsets, making the tournament an edge-of-the-seat thriller.