Cricket is one of the most beloved and watched sports around the world. In fact, with 2.5 billion fans (and growing) around the world, cricket holds the number two spot in terms of popularity, topped only by soccer.
The sport may have emerged in England. However, today it is most beloved in Southeast Asia. Most notably it is countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and of course India that play, follow, and bet on the sport. Of course, the game remains popular in England, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and South Africa.
In terms of cricket tournaments, no event gets more publicity than the International Cricket Council Men’s World Cup event.
What is the ICC World Cup?
Similarly, to the FIFA World Cup for soccer, the ICC World Cup is the most prestigious, beloved, and significant competition in cricket. The ICC World Cup is an event held every four years. The ten participants are chosen based on their performances during the three-year gap.
And just like the FIFA World Cup, the ICC World Cup attracts many punters and fans. Whenever the event rolls around, gambling fans flock to whatever sports betting site they trust and place wagers on their favorite teams.
Sports betting sites have made betting on sports a lot simpler and more convenient than ever. On top of that, they often offer bonuses, promotions, and extra features that make the whole process easier. Of course, these websites cover cricket extensively, as the game is one of the most popular worldwide.
ICC World Cup 2023
The 2023 ICC World Cup is fast approaching. The tournament will be the 13th iteration of the event. England are the defending champions, as they beat New Zealand in the 2019 ICC World Cup final. And while the English team is the one to look out for, many people have zoned in on the hosts.
The 2023 tournament is taking place in India. This won’t be the first time that the World Cup will be held in India. During the 2011 event, games were played in Sri Lanka, India, and for the first time, Bangladesh. The Indian team won on their home turf, which has made Indian fans excited about the prospect of another Indian victory in 2023.
So, what are the chances that India will take home the win this year? In this article, we would like to explore the Indian team’s odds, and whether they stand a chance to be called champions.
India’s Chances of Winning
If we take a look at the 2022 T20 World Cup, we would observe that India did quite well. However, ultimately, England won the event, becoming world champions in both T20 and ODI. Regardless of that, India currently holds the number one spot in the Twenty20 cricket format. So, how well does this translate to the One Day International World Cup?
Well, it is hard to say. The Indian cricket team is, definitely, one of the best in the world. They are consistently ranked among the top five, and as we said currently hold the number one spot in the T20 format. However, when it comes to ODI, India was recently surpassed by both Australia and New Zealand.
However, the team is still ahead of England, who are the defending champions, and Pakistan who are their main rivals. Still, Australia will be hard to beat this year. In the eyes of many cricket analysts, the Aussies are the team to look out for.
Regardless, India still has pretty high odds, at least according to most betting sites. Online and land-based bookies are rating the Men in Blue among the most-likely candidates to win. Certainly, they are in the top three most popular choices for future ODI World Cup champions.
More About the Cup
The 2023 ICC World Cup will feature ten teams, who are chosen based on the 2020-2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League competitions. Of course, the host qualifies automatically, so the ICC will select the following nine. Already seven teams have been chosen:
- India (hosts)
- England
- Australia
- Pakistan
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- New Zealand
The rest of the qualifying teams are yet to be determined. However, they will certainly be announced before the tournament begins.
And speaking of the tournament beginning, the exact dates have not been announced. However, rumor and speculation place the event between October and November of 2023. So, any fans of cricket, save your vacation days if you want to see the event in person.
During the group stage, each of the ten teams will play one game against the other nine. Meaning, we will see a total of 45 matches, which will decide the qualifications for the next stage of the tournament. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, after which the 1st placed team will play against the 4th placed team, and the 2nd will play against the 3rd.
If everything goes as planned, the final of the 2023 World Cup should take place on 19 November 2023. Excitement is certainly high, as fans, punters, and even some casual watchers are excited for what is possibly the biggest event in the world of cricket.
Final Thoughts
India’s team is one of the most successful cricket teams in the world. Their ICC rankings clearly show them consistently ranking among the top three in all notable cricket formats. Currently, they hold the number one spot in Twenty20 International, the number two spot in Test Cricket, and are ranked third in ODI.
With that kind of success, it is no surprise that India is among the favorites to win the upcoming World Cup. However, they are facing off against some challenging opponents. Australia is the number one team in One Day International cricket. England are the defending champions, and New Zealand has performed quite well.
Whatever happens, the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup will surely be a great tournament. Excitement and tensions are high, and cricket fans all over the world are eagerly anticipating the competition.
