Cricket World Cup 2023

The eagerly-anticipated 2023 ODI World Cup commenced on October 5, as defending champions England squared off against New Zealand in the curtain raiser at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The BCCI and the ICC have shortlisted 10 cities as the World Cup 2023 Venues and an additional two venues for the warm-up fixtures. 

The Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati and the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram were the two other venues that hosted the warm-up games from September 29 to October 3.

As many as 10 teams are participating in the global marquee event to battle it out for the coveted title. India (host), New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa are the eight teams that earned a direct qualification. On the other hand, the finalists of the ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2023, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, earned the last two spots in the cricketing extravaganza.

Going by the ODI Cricket World Cup Winners List, Australia have won the most number of titles in the history of the competition, lifting the prestigious trophy a record five times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015). They are also the only other team to have won the trophy in consecutive years along with West Indies (1975, 1979). Thus far, six nations have attained glory since the first edition of the World Cup in 1975.

The 2023 ODI World Cup will also be the first time in the tournament’s history that the mighty Windies will not be a part of the ICC event. This came after the side lost three games on the trot in the Super Six stage of the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, thereby ending their chances of qualification.

Speaking about the 13th edition of the mega ODI event, hosts India began their campaign against the Aussies at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 8 and won the match by 6 wickets. The high-voltage fixture between the Rohit Sharma-led side and Babar Azam’s Pakistan took place on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where the Men in Blue extended their winning streak to 8-0 over the arch-rivals in ODI World Cup. The summit clash of the event will also be held on November 19 in Ahmedabad.