Fond memories of the final in 2011 and I am looking forward to that experience again: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will be playing his fourth ODI World Cup later in 2023. India are preparing to host the ODI World Cup exclusively for the first time, with the showpiece event beginning on October 5. After consecutive heartbreaks in the semifinals in the 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament, India will look to go the distance on home soil.

Kohli was just 22 years old when he played in the 2011 World Cup. He began the campaign with a bang as he scored an unbeaten 83-ball 100 against Bangladesh in Dhaka. In the finals, the Delhi batter showed a lot of maturity when he played a crucial knock of 35 runs under pressure against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His vital knock helped India recover from a precarious 31/2 before MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh took India to victory by six wickets, chasing 275.

Kohli recently said that he is excited to play in Mumbai once again in a 50-over World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the impending World Cup on Tuesday. India will play nine league matches across nine venues. India are scheduled to play one of the qualifying teams in Mumbai on November 2.

“I am looking forward to playing in Mumbai. Fond memories of the final in 2011, and I am looking forward to that experience again,” Kohli was quoted as saying to Star Sports.

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will also host semi-final 1 on November 15, while the other semifinal will be held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

India to play Pakistan on October 15

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The largest cricket stadium in the world will witness the epic clash on October 15.

Notably, India and Pakistan played in the semifinals of the 2011 ODI World Cup in Mohali. MS Dhoni's men scored 260/9 in their 50 overs in the first innings. Pakistan ended up losing the match by 29 runs. Sachin Tendulkar won the Player of the Match award for his knock of 85 in 115 balls.