Muttiah Muralitharan names his favourites to win ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Former Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has picked the favourites to win the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has revealed the names of his three favourite teams who can go all the way and win the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will begin in India from October 5th onward.

The ODI World Cup will kick off with the 2019 finalists England and New Zealand clashing at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. India will start their campaign with a match against Australia in Chennai on October 8.

Speaking to Smita Prakash on the ANI podcast, Muralitharan’s first picked his favourites for winning the World Cup, and he choose hosts India. He also named England, Australia, and Pakistan as the other teams that could go on to win the title.

"In this World Cup, the advantage is more to India, and the reason is that it is a very good side. Then they have a home advantage: a billion positive waves; wherever you go, you see Indian crowds, and it gives a boost to the players. I think they are the biggest favourites, and then Australia will be a favourite, England will be a favourite, and Pakistan can also be a orite. Four favourites, I am picking," said Muralitharan.

Muralitharan also mentioned England's World Cup victory when he said that winning a major competition requires having luck on your side.

"You have to have luck; it is important. Either England won the last World Cup out of luck, or New Zealand would have clearly won that World Cup," he added.

Muttiah Muralitharan speaks on superstitions in Sri Lanka cricket

Muralitharan was part of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team, which was led by Arjuna Ranatunga, and then participated in two further World Cup finals in 2007 against Australia and in 2011 against India, which was his final international match.

Speaking about superstitious beliefs, the former Sri Lankan spinner disclosed that no one used to leave their seats if luck was going Sri Lanka's way.

"A lot of people are superstitious. Sometimes, if it is lucky, you wear the same thing the next day, and we sit still if the runs are scored. Even if someone gets up, we scold him to sit down, and if you want to go to the washroom, go when the over finishes.

Fans think that we take things for granted, but no, we are more serious than them. It is our career, and we are playing for our nation. We always want to win and think about how to win," he said.

Muralitharan recently unveiled the trailer of his biopic titled ‘800’ in the presence of Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar.