ICC World Cup 2019 | Harbhajan Singh picks his favourite of the tournament

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh insists his country deserve to be ranked alongside hosts England as joint favourites to win the World Cup.

England are currently the world’s top-ranked one-dayinternational side and are rated as the bookmakers’ favourites to lift thetrophy. (Schedule, News: Full Coverage of ICC World Cup 2019)

   

Chasing their first World Cup crown, England have emerged asa formidable force, while defending champions Australia are also highlyregarded after winning four of the last five editions.

But India, second in the ICC one-day rankings, are the onlyteam to have broken Australia’s dominance over the last 20 years when Harbhajanand company took the silverware on home soil in 2011.

Harbhajan, who last played for India in 2016, has featuredin three 50-over World Cups and two finals.

And the 38-year-old off-spinner is certain India’s currentcrop have enough quality to match England and Australia.

Asked who he sees as favourites, Harbhajan told reporters:”India, India and England I think.”

Expectations are high in India that their team can bringhome a third world title, emulating the famous first success in the tournamentin England in 1983.

Harbhajan, who has taken 417 Test wickets and 269 in ODIs,acknowledges that intense desire for success from the Indian public will bringits own pressures for Virat Kohli’s squad.”It’s changing. It’s a lot better than it was.Still pressure will be there. Not just on Virat Kohli but the whole team,” hesaid ahead of the tournament, which starts on May 30.

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