Former WWE superstar The Great Khali receives giant World Cup t-shirt from Kane Williamson and Pat Cummins

The first encounter of the World Cup 2023 is underway between England and New Zealand. The World Cup has officially reached its inception. Before the groove of the giants started, Australian skipper Pat Cummins and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson presented a 'Giant' World Cup memorabilia T-shirt to WWE fame The Great Khali. The moment which was captured during the pre-presentation of the World Cup has gone viral on Social Media.

In a momentous gathering at the grandest stage of cricket, the towering figure of Dalip Singh Rana, known in the wrestling world as Khali, assumed the role of ‘Biggest Cricket Fan’ at the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium. Standing tall at a colossal 7'1 inch, the retired wrestling legend shared memorable moments with all ten captains participating in the World Cup, including Rohit Sharma, who leads the Indian cricket team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) orchestrated a special captains' day show on the eve of the World Cup, where these cricketing icons engaged in lively discussions with former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri and former England skipper Eoin Morgan, who guided his team to a triumphant victory in the 2019 edition of the tournament.

India at the helm of pulling of an historic World Cup tournament

The 2023 edition of the World Cup holds a special distinction as it marks the first time India has taken the sole responsibility of hosting the event since its inception. Furthermore, it is the first time since 1979 that a one-day international (ODI) World Cup is being hosted by a single nation. The opening match of this cricketing extravaganza saw the 2019 finalists, New Zealand, win the toss and elect to bowl first against the defending champions, England. 

However, England found themselves without the services of the dynamic Ben Stokes, who was sidelined due to a troublesome hip niggle. On the other hand, the Black Caps were forced to omit key players such as Kane Williamson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson due to injuries. A total of 48 thrilling encounters are scheduled to take place across ten renowned cricket venues, with the pinnacle moment set for November 19, when the final showdown will unfold at the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.