The World Cup fever has already started and former cricketers are no exception to this. With only few days remaining until the start of the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, the former cricketers are now becoming more and more nostalgic while recalling those happy days prior to their retirement from the game.

Also Read: The Cricket World Cup: South Africa’s paradox

Everyone has something to add up as India gear up to defend the title Australia and New Zealand. Last time the World Cup was played in the Indian subcontinent and the home team received a huge support and cheer from the crowd, obviously the situation will be very different this time. Definitely India will miss those electrified voices and cheers.

India vs Pakistan is the biggest cricket battle, says Javagal Srinath

Amongst Indian legends, Javagal Srinath has recently opined that the World Cup is the Olympics of Cricket. The Veteran fast bowler recalled when he got an opportunity to bowl alongside his role model the iconic Kapil Dev during the 1992 World Cup. Even before the Karnataka cricketer could realize his dream the Indian cricket team made a sad exit from the tournament in the first stage itself.

Srinath (currently the ICC Match Referee) is counted amongst those rare Indian cricketers who successfully shared the dressing room with three generations of the nation’s fast bowlers. He bowled along side Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra as well.

Srinath felt that this time also the India Vs Pakistan match will be the most exciting one. Historically, Pakistan had never been able to defeat India in any of the World Cup clashes since 1992. Every time India and Pakistan clash against each other in cricket the same is viewed in an eccentric manner. Cricket fans all over the world and especially from the subcontinent throng to the television set and reach to the stadium to watch the match live.

Javagal Srinath has participated in four of the ICC Cricket World Cup until his retirement from the game. Arguably considered to be the one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket, the 45-year-old veteran cricketer has performed outstandingly well during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. He took 16 wickets and bowled extremely well throughout the event that helped India reach the final against Australia. Despite India’s heroic performance with bat and bowl the team ended up as a runner-up. The dream of winning a cup was finally realized in the last edition of the tournament when India successfully defeated Sri Lanka and we became the World Champions after a 28-year hiatus.

Although India’s last two consecutive defeats in the ongoing tri-series in Australia have raised several questions regarding the team’s chance of defending the coveted trophy but fans are still hopeful that India will become the world champion once again. Only the time will tell if India could successfully defend the title or not. Let’s hope for the best.

Tags: Cricket, ICC Cricket World Cup, India, Javagal Srinath, Pakistan, World Cup