The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup is nearly upon us, as England take on New Zealand on October 5th to open proceedings in a rematch of a classic final in 2019. This year, it seems to signify the end of an era for many of the sport’s defining figures of the last decade: Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Mitchell Starc, Jos Buttler, Steve Smith, Imam Wasim, Trent Boult, Virat Kohli, Shakib Al Hasan and Rohit Sharma are all within the ages of 32 and 36. For all of these icons, this could be their final chance at glory on the sport’s greatest stage, and it could result in some of the highest-quality cricket we’ve ever witnessed at one of the greatest national atmospheres in the world. The host nation will be alight with anticipation to potentially watch their Men in Blue recapture the home glory of 2011, but there is hardly a shortage of elite contenders in this year’s 10-team field, each with their own stash of elite players and big-game contributors eager to take home the world’s biggest prize in ODI cricket, and arguably all of cricket.

India Preview:

The hosts enter this tournament on as euphoric a high as they’ve experienced since they last hosted the ODI World Cup back in 2011. Coming off a dominant Asia Cup title run as well as a historic series win over Australia, the Men in Blue became just the second national team in history (after the 2012 Proteas) to reach the No.1 ranking in all formats simultaneously. Heading into this tournament, it feels like the first time in a long time that the lower order has shown some promise for this side. In particular, Suryakumar Yadav has come out of nowhere in the last few years to prove himself as an elite T20I batsman, and his performances in the ODI series against Australia have inspired belief among Indian fans that he could provide a much-needed jolt in the final overs of an innings. The likes of the explosive Hardik Pandya and the sturdy duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur bolster a middle-to-lower order that lines up as one of the best in the world today. Lest we forget the bowlers have been on an absolute tear as of late, with Mohammed Siraj climbing to No.1 in the ODI rankings following a scintillating 6-wicket haul in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, not to mention the solid form Jasprit Bumrah has shown in his return from injury. However, the real story here involves the squad’s two veteran leaders in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. As they march towards their impending retirements, it feels as if 2023 will be the last time we get to see these two legends of Indian cricket compete on the sport’s biggest stage. After a disappointing 2021 that saw pre-knockout stage exits in both the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup and saw his strength as a captain called into question, Sharma has rebounded to form a deadly partnership with young superstar Shubman Gill atop the order, and has led the side to a string of positive results, albeit still without an ICC trophy to show for it. Much of that success has been buoyed by the return to form of Virat Kohli, arguably the most effective ODI batsman in the nation’s history. After a slip in ODI form (by his standards) from 2019-2022, a captivating 82-run unbeaten performance off 53 balls against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup has spurred a return to form in all formats for the King, and he heads into perhaps his last dance as yet again the team’s most consistently reliable batsman. The only real question with this side is consistent fielding ability, as their catch percentage ranks ninth out of the 10 teams who qualified for the 2019 World Cup since the conclusion of that tournament. However, on paper the only lineup that seems capable of matching up with this side would be the reigning champions England, but the white-hot form the Indians have displayed as of late coupled with their home-pitch advantage and knowledge of the field conditions puts them squarely among the favorites to lift their first intercontinental trophy since 2013. 

Match-by-Match Predictions:

Match 1:

India v. Australia

M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Australia leads 8-4 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Australia by 36 runs

India’s first match of the tournament leaves them with hardly any time to ease into the groove of things, as they are drawn against perennial powerhouses Australia. While the Aussies enter the tournament slow following successive series losses to both India and South Africa coupled with a less-than-impressive showing against the Netherlands in their first warm-up match, they boast a series of experienced performers on the big stage who are capable of getting it done against any opponent. For one, Pat Cummins’ men boast a lethal batting attack capable of causing fits against any set of bowlers. The in-form David Warner leads a lineup consisting of fellow former world champions Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell as well as the Test specialist but always dangerous Marnus Labuschagne. The team’s bowling was the highlight in the warmup fixture, headlined by the legendary Mitchell Starc’s electrifying 3-wicket haul to take over a fixture that looked concerningly in the balance. Due to both of India’s warm-up matches raining out, I will take Australia to open their tournament with a win, as they appear to be better off with regards to their squad chemistry at the moment compared to the Men in Blue.

Prediction: Australia def. India

India Record: 0-1

Match 2:

India v. Afghanistan

Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

India leads 1-0 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Afghanistan by 11 runs

After a loss against Australia to open the tournament, a match against Afghanistan may be just what the doctor ordered for Team India. Afghanistan is coming off a group stage exit in the Asia Cup and appear unlikely to pose much of a threat to the contenders in this tournament, despite the presence of a few star players. Not much to say here; India should not have much trouble with this fixture as they post their first win of the tournament.

Prediction: India def. Afghanistan

India Record: 1-1

Match 3:

India v. Pakistan

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

India leads 7-0 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Pakistan by 89 runs

Despite the historic nature of this fixture, it is one that India have dominated historically. They are 7-0 against their heated rivals at the ODI World Cup, and only lost their first World Cup match to Pakistan at the T20 edition in 2021. Nevertheless, the Shaheens are in as good a position as ever to recapture the glory of 1992, as Babar Azam’s men have proven to be a deadly task for any opponent over the last few years. Despite a dismal Asia Cup performance, Pakistan flexed their muscle in a dominant 4-1 series thrashing of New Zealand earlier this year, while also handling Afghanistan in a series sweep. What we know of this team is that on their day, they are incredibly difficult to beat, but it is simply a matter of finding that form for them. The historic 228-run beatdown they suffered to India in the Asia Cup is no doubt in the minds of all those involved, as Pakistan understand they will need strong batting performances around Babar Azam from the likes of Mohammed Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam-ul-Haq as well as early, quick wickets in order to have a chance against a loaded India side. On the bowling side especially, the pressure on the young Shaheen Afridi looms large as they have struggled to find consistent wickets aside from him. India should end up being just too deep for Pakistan to deal with as they cruise to an eighth straight ODI World Cup win over their fiercest foes.

Prediction: India def. Pakistan

India Record: 2-1

Match 4:

India v. Bangladesh

Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

India leads 3-1 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Bangladesh by 28 runs

To most, Bangladesh’s standing in this tournament is crystal clear from the outset: they’re good enough to handle the two weakest teams in Afghanistan and the Netherlands, but lack the firepower to contend with anyone in the top 7. Nevertheless, this team has the ability to make any contender pay for not taking them seriously. They stole a 6-run victory over India in an (admittedly meaningless) Asia Cup match that proved to be the only loss of the tournament for the Men in Blue, and can give any team fits on their day. However, India should not struggle too much here, as turmoil within the Bangladeshi ranks over the omission of the iconic Tamim Iqbal from the World Cup squad coupled with the already sizable talent gap should make this matchup relatively straightforward for the home side.

Prediction: India def. Bangladesh

India Record: 3-1

Match 5: 

India v. New Zealand

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala

New Zealand leads 5-3 with 1 no result all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Semifinal, New Zealand def. India by 18 runs

New Zealand are a side that have given India more than their fair share of sleepless nights in recent memory. The 2019 World Cup semifinal defeat may rank only second to the heartbreak of losing the inaugural World Test Championship Final in 2021, just to give an idea of how New Zealand have tarnished the dreams of many on the subcontinent as of late. Finalists twice consecutively, the Kiwis again enter this tournament perhaps a cut below how the other favorites are being perceived, but their penchant for big performances in key games makes them a force to be reckoned with in this World Cup. However, a big concern for the Black Caps may be the age of their bowling attack, arguably their greatest strength, and how they can hold up over the course of a 10 or 11 game tournament. The star duo of Trent Boult and Mark Henry are 34 and 31 respectively, and only two of the eight bowlers they played in their warm-up fixture against South Africa are below 30 years of age. The batting lineup is one to be reckoned with as always, but no longer one to be feared, especially now with the injury to Kane Williamson that puts things in limbo for the New Zealand side. At this stage midway through the tournament, expect the energetic and powerful Indian lineup to shred New Zealand’s bowling for a vengeful victory.

Prediction: India def. New Zealand

India Record: 4-1

Match 6:

India v. England

Ekana Sports City, Lucknow

England leads 4-3 with 1 tie at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, England def. India by 31 runs

This fixture presents arguably the most mouth-watering matchup of the group stage: the hosts and tournament favorites take on the defending world champions in what many are heralding as a preview of the final in Ahmedabad. No roster in the world matches up as well with India as Jos Buttler’s men do, and with the ODI unretirement of the legendary Ben Stokes, England will have no shortage of confidence against any opponent in the world. It’s hard to find a weakness in either of these sides, as these rosters read like a who’s who of the last decade or so of ODI cricket: Kohli, Stokes, Sharma, Root, and so on. Give me India by virtue of their home-pitch advantage, but don’t be surprised if this match goes either way.

Prediction: India def. England

India Record: 5-1

Match 7:

India v. Sri Lanka

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Series tied 4-4 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

We last saw these sides face off twice at the Asia Cup, with India sweeping their rivals to the south. The first encounter came in the group stages, as India whittled Sri Lanka down from 162/6 to all out for 172 to complete a 41-run victory with 51 balls left, and they followed that up with a 10-wicket destruction in the final after bowling the Lions out for just 50 in 15.2 overs before chasing the score in just 6.1 to claim the title. Sri Lanka are not without hope though, as the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga has been duly filled by the electric 20-year-old all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, who won player of the match in his side’s first defeat to India at the Asia Cup with a 5/40 haul in 10 overs bowling combined with a sizzling 42 not out on 46 balls in an attempt to will his side to victory. This is a far cry from the Sri Lanka team that India saw at the Wankhede 12 years ago in the World Cup Final, but they still cannot afford to not take this game seriously.

Prediction: India def. Sri Lanka

India Record: 6-1

Match 8:

India v. South Africa

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

South Africa leads 3-2 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2019 World Cup Group Stage, India def. South Africa by 6 wickets

A 10 or 11 match ODI tournament is never going to be easy to finish undefeated, and every team is going to be bound for a slip-up. Thus, India looks a good bet to suffer their second loss of the tournament against a red-hot Proteas side that enters the tournament in their best form in years. Prior to a tight 7-run DLS defeat against New Zealand in a warm-up match, South Africa was last seen reversing a 2-0 series deficit against Australia last month in backbreaking fashion, with three successive victories of 111, 164, and 122 runs respectively to send the five-time champions reeling. They can also boast of a series win over England back in January, not to mention a recent 2-0 drubbing of the Netherlands. The top half of their batting over is perhaps the best in the world at the moment, as Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, and Heinrich Klassen all rank within the top eight ODI batsmen in the world while Temba Bavuma and David Miller both sitting in the top 15 as well. This fixture projects to be a difficult test for India’s bowlers against the deadly top order southpaw duo of Miller and de Kock, and I project India to suffer their second loss of the tournament here.

Prediction: South Africa def. India

India Record: 6-2

Match 9:

India v. Netherlands

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

India leads 2-0 all-time at the World Cup

Last Meeting: 2011 World Cup Group Stage, India def. Netherlands by 5 wickets

The Netherlands represent one of the feel-good stories of this tournament: they navigated a tough qualifying schedule that included Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe to shock the field and reach the Cricket World Cup for the first time since 2011, and as the only non-Test playing nation in the field. They did so dealing with the loss of many top players due to injury, and are the only team in the field not ranked in the top 10 ODI nations, as they sit 14th. India should end the group stages with their most comfortable victory of the tournament, but it’s worth recognizing an admirable run by this Dutch side.

Prediction: India def. Netherlands

India Record: 7-2

At 7-2, India should be a near-lock to reach the semifinals. With wins over Australia, Pakistan, and England, it would stand to reason that they would be the favorite to win the whole thing by that point, but far crazier things have happened. All we know is that India haven’t looked this good heading into a World Cup since at least 2011, quite possibly ever, and will face a world of pressure and challenges if they are to claim a historic third World Cup trophy.