As anticipation for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup intensifies, cricket pundits from across the globe are collaboratively engaging in discussions to forecast the tournament's potential winners and underdogs.

India and Pakistan will be squaring off against each other in Ahmedabad on October 14. However, former cricketers like Dinesh Karthik, Chris Gayle, and Muttiah Muralitharan are hoping for the arch-rivals to meet in the final of the ICC World Cup as well.

"Hopefully it will be an India, Pakistan final," Gayle said in a recent interaction with Star Sports.

"I’d love to have India and Pakistan [in the final]," Muralitharan said.

"I would love to see an India, Pakistan final," Karthik said.

However, adding an unexpected twist to the predictions, former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis diverged from the India-Pakistan final narrative. Instead, he named defending champions England and the host nation India as his anticipated finalists.

The tournament is set to kick off on October 5, with the final match to take place in Ahmedabad on November 19.