Vengsarkar says India has ‘fantastic chance’ to lift WC

India begins its campaign against South Africa on June 5 at Southampton.

Vengsarkar, who is the mentor of the T20 Mumbai League, was speaking after Mumbai Cricket Association announced the league's second season will begin from May 14.

Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar believes that the Virat-Kohli led team has a “fantastic chance” to lift the upcoming World Cup, which begins on May 30 in United Kingdom.

“India has got a fantastic chance to win the World Cup. At-least last four they will go definitely. But the final, I can’t predict to be honest. But we have got extreme potential and all the players are (in) good form,” Vengsarkar told reporters on Monday.

Vengsarkar, who is the mentor of the T20 Mumbai League, was speaking after Mumbai Cricket Association announced the league's second season will begin from May 14. League’s ambassador Sachin Tendulkar and mentor Sunil Gavaskar were also present.

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Tendulkar too praised the league saying, “T20 Mumbai League is soon going to be a league that most of the players from across the nation will want to participate in. For so many years, the (way) Ranji Trophy team has played, if given a choice a number of players would have wanted to be part of Mumbai Ranji Trophy because the brand of cricket was different and everyone wanted to be part of it."

Tendulkar added that Mumbai still has enough cricketing talent. “I don’t think we are down in the dumps at all. There have been occasions where we have gone to the semis and final (in the Ranji Trophy). I feel with this T20 League’s performance, as Mr (Sunil) Gavaskar put it correctly, a number of careers started.

“I think 4-5 players were picked up by IPL teams to represent their teams. I think it’s a beginning when we compare ourselves to someone like Punjab who has 14 players playing for various teams (in the IPL). I am sure we can get there. We have got good talent here in Mumbai cricket. It is all about opportunities and I keep coming back to that."

Gavaskar urged the MCA authorities to schedule the league before the IPL auction.

“Shivam Dube got an IPL contract after (playing in T20 Mumbai League), Suryakumar Yadav also got a big contract and I am pretty certain that there will be many more coming from this league, who will be wanted by the IPL franchises for the next season,” said Gavaskar.

India begins its campaign against South Africa on June 5 at Southampton.