The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023  is set to begin on October 5th in India. This marquee event in cricket returns to India after 12 years, with the nation hosting the tournament for the fourth time overall. The World Cup will feature 10 teams battling it out across 11 venues. Defending champions England will take on runners-up New Zealand in the tournament opener at Ahmedabad. 

Meanwhile, hosts India start their campaign on October 8 against 5 time champion Australia. After 45 group stage matches, the top 4 teams will progress to the semifinals leading up to the final on November 19. With the Cricket World Cup 2023 India just days away, here is everything you need to know about this mega event in India:

History of Cricket World Cup

The first Cricket World Cup was held in 1975 in England, with the West Indies emerging as champions. Since then, the World Cup has been held every 4 years like other major sports. Australia has won the tournament most times (5), followed by West Indies (2), India (2), Pakistan (1), Srilanka (1) and England (1).

Key Rules & Regulations of ICC Cricket world cup 2023

Some important rules for the World Cup are:

• 50 overs per team innings
• No bowling restrictions
• Only 2 fielders were allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the first 10 overs
• 4 fielders allowed outside the circle between overs 11-40
• 5 fielders can be placed outside the circle in the last 10 overs
• The umpire can award 5 penalty runs for on-field misconduct

Teams

So there are 10 teams that are qualified for the World Cup 2023 – England, India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands. West Indies are the notable absentee this time, having won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979.

Venues of Cricket World Cup 2023

Matches will be played across 11 different venues in India. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and Mohali are the host cities. The semifinals will take place in Mumbai and Kolkata while Ahmedabad will host the Final.

Format of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

The 10 teams will play against each other in a round-robin format. Each team plays a total of 9 matches in the group stage. The top 4 teams at the end of the group stage will advance to the semifinals.

Squads

Each team has announced a 15-member squad for the World Cup. Teams can make changes to their squads in case of injuries, but any replacement players need ICC approval.

Key Dates

The World Cup 2023 will be played from October 5 to November 19. Some key dates are:

• Oct 5 – Tournament opener between England and New Zealand
• Oct 14 – India vs Pakistan at Ahmedabad
• Nov 15 – 1st semifinal in Mumbai
• Nov 16 – 2nd semifinal in Kolkata
• Nov 19 – Final at Ahmedabad

India’s Chances

India will start favorites alongside defending champions England and Australia. India have a strong well-balanced squad with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in their batting ranks. Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will lead the bowling attack.

India’s recent home form and success in T20Is & Asia cup augur well for their World Cup chances. However, the key will be handling the pressure of expectations from the home fans.

Pakistan’s Prospects

Pakistan will be boosted by the return of pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi from injury. With Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, Pakistan has a solid opening pair. However, their middle order remains relatively inexperienced. As per the skipper of Pakistan, the Men in Green are on a focus to win the World Cup 2023 more than their aim of qualifying for the knockout rounds. 

Can they dominate the 50-over format in India? Anyway, the match against Netherlands on October 6 will set the tone for Pakistan’s World Cup.

Dark Horses

2015 winners Australia cannot be written off and will be looking to defend their title. The Aussies have found form again and their pace bowling attack led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood can trouble any team.

New Zealand, who were runners-up in 2019, are also capable of going the distance while South Africa has quality players who can step up on their day.

Prediction

Considering the balance in their squad and home advantage, India will start as favorites in many people’s eyes. However, it will be a closely contested tournament with Australia and England also strong contenders. An India vs. Australia final could well be on the cards!

How to Watch World Cup 2023:

This year, the World Cup 2023 is going to be held in India, so the Indian fans have a great chance to witness the epic clashes of the tournament from the stadium. On Star Network, you can watch the live games. For this, Star Sports 1 and 2 will telecast all the games on a live stream, whereas Hotstar will stream the games on an online platform.

For live scores and action, you can switch to Winmatch. On Winmatch, you can not only get updates on all the games of the World Cup but also play live games. This year, Winmatch is offering you the chance to win real cash with the games of the World Cup. The registration process for Winmatch is free, and you can avail up to Rs. 50,00,000 cashback on sign-up.

Conclusion

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has all the ingredients to be a thrilling tournament. The India vs. Pakistan clashes always add extra excitement. India has the resources to defend home conditions well. But Australia and England both have top-class squads capable of lifting the trophy again. Underdog teams like New Zealand and South Africa could also spring a surprise. For live games, you can switch to Winmatch, which is offering you the chance of winning big with your favorite team. 

FAQs 

Q. 1) When does the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 start and end?

Ans: The World Cup starts on October 5th, 2023, and concludes with the final on November 19th, 2023.

Q. 2) How many teams are participating in the World Cup 2023?

Ans: There are 10 teams competing in the World Cup 2023.

Q. 3) Where will the matches be played?

Ans: Matches will be played across 11 different venues in India, including cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and more.

Q. 4) How can I watch the live coverage of the World Cup 2023?

Ans: In India, Star Sports will telecast all matches live, and you can also stream them on Disney+ Hotstar. On Winmatch you can be up-to-date with the live score and get a chance to win big. 

Q. 5) Who are the favorites to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023?

Ans: India is considered one of the favorites, along with defending champions England and Australia. However, it’s a closely contested tournament, and teams like Australia, England, and New Zealand are strong contenders.