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The 2023 ODI World Cup is all set to get underway on Thursday with a rematch of the 2019 last between England and New Zealand on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Over the course of the match, a complete of 48 matches will likely be performed throughout 10 venues in India.
The World Cup will likely be held in a round-robin format with every of the ten groups taking part in the others as soon as within the group stage, with the highest 4 sides qualifying for the semi-finals. Whereas the primary semi-final will likely be performed on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15, the second will likely be hosted by the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16.
The grand finale will likely be held on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. Who will carry the 2023 World Cup trophy? Which sides will make it to the High 4? And might we count on some upsets? Listed below are some predictions for our in-house specialists at Sportskeeda.
Shashwat Kumar: A World Cup in India, due to the sheer variety of folks 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 could possibly be an ODI World Cup like no different (and one the format actually wants).
As for predictions, effectively, this has bought to be India’s yr, 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 match. A batter who has outlined a technology, and a number of other stars who’re the gold commonplace for the roles they carry out – India have the whole lot, and that makes them outright favorites, no matter no matter anybody says.
However right here’s the factor. The 9 different groups will not be right here to soak up the sights. Australia and England have extra white-ball title-winning pedigree than the Indian facet, and India’s report towards New Zealand in ICC tournaments is bordering on turning 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 will likely be upsets, drama, social media dissection (is a World Cup in 2023 even price it with out the social media buzz) and riveting motion – the whole lot that may (or somewhat ought to) mild up a format that threatens to float away.
Rudransh Khurana: I believe it could be an England vs. India last, with Jos Buttler’s workforce taking the cup once more. India have the whole lot 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 workforce depth, stability and expertise are simply method too good. The defending champions will blow groups away even when they don’t seem to be at their finest 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 assumption that it is powerful to look previous India. No different workforce 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 specific drawback areas during the last yr. Extreme journey due to a somewhat weird schedule and its potential implications may additionally take their toll over the course of the match, and the suffocating stress India are certain to face in all places they go is commonly brushed below the carpet when it arguably should not be.
However on paper, India have a facet 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 at all times succesful underdogs, and Pakistan are Pakistan, but it surely could possibly be Rohit Sharma lifting the trophy on November 19.
Venkatesh Ravichandran: This World Cup may come all the way down to the collection of the best taking part in XI for that individual 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 best one or two in line with the necessity of the hour may have a big bearing on the result.
In that sense, it’s exhausting to look past England as one of many finalists, as they appear to have gotten these finer elements higher than the opposite sides over the previous few years!! ( Like selecting Archer in 2019 or the utilization of Wood within the T20 World Cup and Stokes because the opening bowler, and so on.).
But, defending a title is commonly a lot more durable than successful it so Australia and India will likely be proper there with them. However India has to point out that they’ll overcome the massive sport nerves and their timid batting on the day to be believed fully. The Aussies have by no means endured two consecutive World Cups with out a minimum of making the ultimate since 1983 so they need to be the opposite finalist.
So, I’m going for an England vs Australia last on an Ahmedabad pitch that ought to negate the batting of each side and the Aussies popping out on prime due to their bowling.
Additionally, have a sense that the workforce that drops the least variety of catches of top-order batters will likely 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 will likely be fixated on.
Gokul Nair: Extra so than anything, the 2023 version of the World Cup comes throughout as a baptism by fireplace for the ODI format. The match comes at a time when franchise cricket has proven its dominance however has left a little bit of respiration area for the 50-over format.
So far as the groups are involved, the predominant flat circumstances will dictate the taking part in XI mixture and it would show to be the important thing on this match. 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 doubtlessly dictate the proceedings on the World Cup is dew. With the temperatures usually being cooler within the subcontinent within the latter components of the yr, its onset may have an enormous say
Contemplating the entire components, it’s simply exhausting to look previous Staff India’s residence benefit (which could possibly be their undoing within the blink of a watch), in addition to England’s sheer energy from prime 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 offers them a slight benefit over the Males in Blue, ought to such a last 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 generally. Hopefully, that is India’s yr, as issues have began to fall in place for captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. After the ODI sequence within the West Indies earlier this yr, 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 yr. I believe 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 workforce 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 special 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 taking part in at residence would tempt one into selecting them as favourites and a doable triumph this time shouldn’t shock many. However for what it’s price, Australia have this refined knack of following the imply reversion philosophy and on the again of consecutive ODI sequence defeats, you’d suppose the one method 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 primary as the numerous secure catchers that they’ve of their ranks. They’ve a proud report within the match 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 lots, after all. Roster-wise, they’ve all their packing containers ticked, having sufficient backups that may undoubtedly turn out to be useful, contemplating the lengthy length of the match.
Sure, taking part in at residence will likely be a double-edged sword, however the unwavering help of this cricket-frenzy nation will nearly definitely outweigh the stress of expectations. Being effectively conscious of the circumstances has benefited host nations prior to now three editions, a development unlikely to die down very quickly.
The most important energy 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 exhausting to assemble a squad which has all of the bases coated. The batting lineup seems to be 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 needs to be the X-factor for India.
I believe Afghanistan and Pakistan will shock many followers within the match. Afghanistan ought to make it to the World Cup semifinals for the primary time. Their spin assault might be the most effective within the match, and their batting has been firing on all cylinders in current 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 workforce within the semifinals could possibly be New Zealand or Australia. Each groups know methods to carry their sport when it issues probably the most. Their gamers have an awesome thought of the circumstances in India. So I really feel India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia would be the High 5 groups, with India successful 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 some of the balanced items on paper. However query marks stay over their skill to flick the psychological change within the video games that matter. Please notice, {that a} residence World Cup brings with it excruciating stress, 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 have been sown through the years for generations to reap.
Renin Wilben Albert: Plenty of critics and followers reckon that India are the favorites to win the World Cup at residence. They’re undoubtedly one of many prime sides within the competitors, as are defending champions England. However Australia is one other facet that may emerge on prime in the event that they play to potential.
A few cricket pundits have proclaimed that the workforce that beats India will go on to win the 2023 World Cup. Australia is one workforce that has constantly troubled India in India in white-ball cricket. They did go down within the not too long ago concluded ODI sequence, however had registered a formidable win earlier within the yr.
Australia won’t be the strongest facet on paper, however have a variety of impression gamers – from Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Most of they’ve loads of expertise of taking part in in Indian circumstances.
We haven’t spoken about David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. If they arrive off, they’ll single-handedly win video games. And whereas Australia have just one frontline spinner in Adam Zampa, he’s an X issue within the workforce, his current struggles in South Africa however.
India have a improbable facet as effectively and can go into the World Cup with some wonderful performances. However there have been phases the place they’ve struggled at residence in white ball cricket. As for England, it stays to be seen whether or not Bazball magic works in India.
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