Team India captain Rohit Sharma has anticipated an intensely competitive Cricket World Cup ahead. In a statement released by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Sharma expressed his belief that the tournament would be marked by fast-paced gameplay and teams adopting a more aggressive and attacking approach than ever before.

India, a three-time finalist, will be eyeing for its third title and second on home soil. The team will kick off their campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup against Australia in Chennai on October 8. Excitement is mounting across the nation as India aims to recreate the triumph of 12 years ago. Sharma acknowledged the anticipation among fans, emphasizing that the tournament’s competitiveness and evolving dynamics would contribute to many thrilling moments.

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The Indian skipper conveyed his team’s determination to live up to the expectations of the home crowd. He emphasized the significance of thorough preparation and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform at their best in October and November.

The eagerly awaited tournament will commence on October 5 with a clash between England and New Zealand, the finalists from the previous edition. The match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host one of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament – the clash between India and arch-rival Pakistan on October 15.

🗣️🗣️ We look forward to preparing well and being at our best this October-November #TeamIndia Captain @ImRo45 is all in readiness ahead of the #CWC23 👌👌 pic.twitter.com/ZlV8oNGJ04
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 27, 2023

“It’s going to be a great experience playing in the World Cup at home. India won here 12 years ago, and I know fans nationwide can’t wait for us to take the field this time. This World Cup is going to be very competitive as the game has become faster and teams are playing more positively than ever before,” Rohit was quoted as saying in an ICC release.

India and Pakistan have faced each other seven times in World Cup history, with India emerging victorious in all previous encounters. This includes matches in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, and 2019. Notably, their encounter in the 2019 edition at Old Trafford saw India posting an impressive total of 336/5, largely thanks to Rohit Sharma’s exceptional knock of 140 runs off just 113 balls.