The 2023 ODI World Cup is all set to get underway on Thursday with a rematch of the 2019 remaining between England and New Zealand on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Over the course of the event, a complete of 48 matches might be performed throughout 10 venues in India.
The World Cup might be held in a round-robin format with every of the ten groups enjoying the others as soon as within the group stage, with the highest 4 sides qualifying for the semi-finals. Whereas the primary semi-final might be performed on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15, the second might be hosted by the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16.
The grand finale might be held on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. Who will raise the 2023 World Cup trophy? Which sides will make it to the Prime 4? And might we count on some upsets? Listed here are some predictions for our in-house specialists at Sportskeeda.
Shashwat Kumar: A World Cup in India, due to the sheer variety of individuals that may flip up at numerous venues, simply feels completely different. The dancing within the aisles, the cacophony of noise, the billions gorging their eyes on the motion – this may very well be an ODI World Cup like no different (and one the format actually wants).
As for predictions, effectively, this has obtained to be India’s 12 months, proper? Again on the shores the place they final gained the World Cup, with a captain maybe captaining for the final time in a serious ICC white-ball event. A batter who has outlined a technology, and several other stars who’re the gold customary for the roles they carry out – India have all the things, and that makes them outright favorites, no matter no matter anybody says.
However right here’s the factor. The 9 different groups are usually not right here to soak up the sights. Australia and England have extra white-ball title-winning pedigree than the Indian aspect, and India’s report in opposition to New Zealand in ICC tournaments is bordering on changing into a foregone conclusion. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa additionally arrive a lot stronger than they did in 2019.
Whereas I nonetheless reckon India will go all the way in which, there might be upsets, drama, social media dissection (is a World Cup in 2023 even value it with out the social media buzz) and riveting motion – all the things which may (or moderately ought to) gentle up a format that threatens to float away.
Rudransh Khurana: I feel it could be an England vs. India remaining, with Jos Buttler’s group taking the cup once more. India have all the things occurring for them proper now however even after a lot cricket, I have never seen the ruthlessness in them that groups often want for tournaments like this.
England do have a spin drawback however their group depth, steadiness and expertise are simply approach too good. The defending champions will blow groups away even when they don’t seem to be at their greatest or whereas rotating gamers. If the toss would not play a freakish benefit just like the 2021 T20 WC, nobody’s stopping England.
Sai Krishna: A house World Cup solely provides to the idea that it is powerful to look previous India. No different group combines spin-bowling selection, fast-bowling efficiency and top-order reliability in the way in which the Males in Blue do.
There are issues, after all, with the lower-middle order and accidents being explicit drawback areas over the past 12 months. Extreme journey because of a moderately weird schedule and its potential implications may additionally take their toll over the course of the event, and the suffocating strain India are certain to face in every single place they go is commonly brushed below the carpet when it arguably should not be.
However on paper, India have a aspect tailored to go all the way in which, each skill-wise and mentally. Australia and England, who’ve barely any weaknesses, would be the apparent opponents to beat. South Africa and New Zealand are all the time succesful underdogs, and Pakistan are Pakistan, nevertheless it may very well be Rohit Sharma lifting the trophy on November 19.
Venkatesh Ravichandran: This World Cup may come all the way down to the choice of the correct enjoying XI for that specific venue and opponent together with groups being versatile in-game. Nearly all of the contending groups appear to have 12 or 13 that warrant choice, so one thing as small as leaving the correct one or two in accordance with the necessity of the hour may have a major bearing on the end result.
In that sense, it’s onerous to look past England as one of many finalists, as they appear to have gotten these finer features higher than the opposite sides over the previous few years!! ( Like selecting Archer in 2019 or the utilization of Wooden within the T20 World Cup and Stokes because the opening bowler, and so forth.).
But, defending a title is commonly a lot more durable than profitable it so Australia and India might be proper there with them. However India has to indicate that they will overcome the massive recreation nerves and their timid batting on the day to be believed utterly. The Aussies have by no means endured two consecutive World Cups with out no less than making the ultimate since 1983 so they need to be the opposite finalist.
So, I’m going for an England vs Australia remaining on an Ahmedabad pitch that ought to negate the batting of each side and the Aussies popping out on high because of their bowling.
Additionally, have a sense that the group that drops the least variety of catches of top-order batters might be internet hosting the trophy in the long run. So amidst all of the main run-scorers and wicket-takers lists, that is the one my eyes might be fixated on.
Gokul Nair: Extra so than the rest, the 2023 version of the World Cup comes throughout as a baptism by fireplace for the ODI format. The event comes at a time when franchise cricket has proven its dominance however has left a little bit of respiratory area for the 50-over format.
So far as the groups are involved, the predominant flat situations will dictate the enjoying XI mixture and it would show to be the important thing on this event. Sides like Australia and England are counting on their all-rounders to ship within the spin division with their part-time bowling, whereas the subcontinent sides have a longtime and structured spin unit.
One other issue which may probably dictate the proceedings on the World Cup is dew. With the temperatures typically being cooler within the subcontinent within the latter components of the 12 months, its onset may have an enormous say
Contemplating all the components, it’s simply onerous to look previous Staff India’s house benefit (which may very well be their undoing within the blink of a watch), in addition to England’s sheer power from high to backside.
The 2023 version may ship the ultimate that was missed out narrowly 4 years in the past. England’s expertise of getting excelled in crunch matches provides them a slight benefit over the Males in Blue, ought to such a remaining come to fruition.
Anuj Prabhu: It has been 10 lengthy years since India gained an ICC Trophy. The semi-final defeat in 2019 nonetheless hurts me typically. Hopefully, that is India’s 12 months, as issues have began to fall in place for captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. After the ODI collection within the West Indies earlier this 12 months, I didn’t have a lot hope. Nonetheless, the way in which they performed within the Asia Cup has reignited that hope a bit.
KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav all being among the many runs have been completely good for us. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj proceed to breathe fireplace with the ball and Kuldeep Yadav continues to achieve new heights in his redemption arc.
I simply hope that that is India’s 12 months. I feel England too have all of the bases coated to defend their World Cup crown. But when not India, I want to see a brand new World Cup winner, ideally one between New Zealand and South Africa.
Sooryanarayanan Sesha: You consider the ODI World Cup and the primary group that pops up in thoughts is Australia. Granted that they enter this version having misplaced 5 video games on the bounce at one stage however when the massive event comes by, they’re a distinct entity altogether. A look at their squad on paper means that they nonetheless stay one of many better-balanced outfits with loads of high quality all-round choices to show to.
India enjoying at house would tempt one into selecting them as favourites and a attainable triumph this time mustn’t shock many. However for what it’s value, Australia have this refined knack of following the imply reversion philosophy and on the again of consecutive ODI collection defeats, you’d assume the one approach forward is upward.
Only a few groups maintain their nerve in addition to the Aussies do within the crunch moments – a reality mirrored in one thing as fundamental as the various secure catchers that they’ve of their ranks. They’ve a proud report within the event to defend and having misplaced their crown in England in 2019, will come out a extra decided lot, particularly given this might effectively be the World Cup swansong for a few of their best gamers.
Aditya Desai: In my humble opinion, India go into the World Cup with the fewest complications, barring the issue of a lot, after all. Roster-wise, they’ve all their bins ticked, having sufficient backups that may undoubtedly come in useful, contemplating the lengthy length of the event.
Sure, enjoying at house might be a double-edged sword, however the unwavering assist of this cricket-frenzy nation will nearly definitely outweigh the strain of expectations. Being effectively conscious of the situations has benefited host nations up to now three editions, a development unlikely to die down very quickly.
The most important power India have is the presence of accumulators of their batting lineup. Whereas power-hitting has been the flavour of the season in white-ball cricket, the artwork of pacing the innings should not be discounted. India have confronted the warmth for his or her underwhelming performances in ICC occasions, however is not the joys of the primary rain after a drought unparalleled?
Vinay Chhabria: To me, India appear to be the favourites to win the ICC World Cup 2023. Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid and Ajit Agarkar have labored onerous to assemble a squad which has all of the bases coated. The batting lineup appears to be like stellar, the bowling is deadly, and for the primary time in a very long time, India has a number of dependable choices for the center order. All-rounder Hardik Pandya must be the X-factor for India.
I feel Afghanistan and Pakistan will shock many followers within the event. Afghanistan ought to make it to the World Cup semifinals for the primary time. Their spin assault might be the very best within the event, and their batting has been firing on all cylinders in latest matches.
Pakistan have proven nice consistency at ICC occasions, having gained the Champions Trophy 2017, narrowly lacking out on the semifinals within the 2019 World Cup, topping the group stage in T20 World Cup 2021 and ending runners-up within the 2022 T20 World Cup. They need to make it to the highest 4 this time.
The fourth group within the semifinals may very well be New Zealand or Australia. Each groups know how you can raise their recreation when it issues essentially the most. Their gamers have an incredible thought of the situations in India. So I really feel India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia would be the Prime 5 groups, with India profitable the title on November 19.
Srinjoy Sanyal: Wankhede has bounce. Eden Gardens permits seam and swing. Motera aids power-hitting. These three venues will host the 2023 Males’s ODI World Cup knockouts – India’s bugbear for 10 years.
Rohit Sharma’s males are probably the most balanced models on paper. However query marks stay over their capacity to flick the psychological swap within the video games that matter. Please word, {that a} house World Cup brings with it excruciating strain, compounded by some even having a possible farewell.
There’s little doubt over the 4 favourites for the semi-finals.
However to me, England look primed to efficiently defend their crown. A left-right opening mixture, a Joe Root tailored for this format, that center order, a plethora of all-rounders, a liquorice allsorts bowling division – seeds which were sown over time for generations to reap.
Renin Wilben Albert: Plenty of critics and followers reckon that India are the favorites to win the World Cup at house. They’re undoubtedly one of many high sides within the competitors, as are defending champions England. However Australia is one other aspect that may emerge on high in the event that they play to potential.
A few cricket pundits have proclaimed that the group that beats India will go on to win the 2023 World Cup. Australia is one group that has constantly troubled India in India in white-ball cricket. They did go down within the just lately concluded ODI collection, however had registered a formidable win earlier within the 12 months.
Australia may not be the strongest aspect on paper, however have a lot of influence gamers – from Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Most of they’ve loads of expertise of enjoying in Indian situations.
We haven’t spoken about David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. If they arrive off, they will single-handedly win video games. And whereas Australia have just one frontline spinner in Adam Zampa, he’s an X issue within the group, his latest struggles in South Africa however.
India have a implausible aspect as effectively and can go into the World Cup with some glorious performances. However there have been phases the place they’ve struggled at house in white ball cricket. As for England, it stays to be seen whether or not Bazball magic works in India.
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