ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023: What To Expect From the Mega-Event
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is all set. Here's a preview of the 45-day event, plus how to watch live with Sling TV.
Get ready for the biggest spectacle in international cricket, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which runs from October 5 to November 19. India will be hosting the prestigious event after 12 years. Witness an exhilarating 45-day contest with 10 teams vying for cricket’s most prestigious crown - The World Cup!
Let’s dive in to learn what this World Cup has in store for fans across the globe. To watch with Sling TV, follow this link or use the button at the bottom of the page.
Format: Round Robin
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All the 10 participating teams will play each other once in a round-robin format, the same format as was followed in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The top 4 teams with maximum points will advance to the semi-final stage. The top team after the round-robin will play the team finishing fourth on the table, while the second and third-place finishers will meet in the other semi-final.
With each team designated to play nine fixtures, it makes the contest more competitive by allowing teams to crawl their way back despite starting slow. This makes the World Cup more unpredictable, dramatic, and exciting, and one can never predict a clear finalist till the end.
What teams are at the Cricket World Cup?
India (host), New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.
West Indies failed to qualify after losing out in the World Cup qualifiers, with Netherlands taking their spot.
Big names at the Big stage, one last time!
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Prepare yourself to bid an emotional farewell to the legends of the game in what will be their final World Cup hurrah. Let’s look at some of the big stars who could be playing their last World Cup:
Virat Kohli - Arguably the greatest batsman in modern-day cricket, this could be Kohli’s final World Cup appearance. Having won the coveted trophy in 2011 at home, Virat Kohli will be itching for a fairy-tale ending by winning the trophy for the 2nd time, once again at home.
Rohit Sharma - Regarded as one of the best, most-feared, and swashbuckling white ball cricketers, Rohit Sharma will be playing his last World Cup event. The Indian skipper is yet to have a World Cup trophy to his name, which has also eluded Team India for more than a decade now. Rohit Sharma must be preparing for a grand exit by winning the World Cup trophy in front of the home fans.
Steve Smith - Another legend of the game, the former Australian captain has been the core of the Australian line-up in the last three World Cup tournaments. A key figure in Australia's 2015 World Cup-winning journey, Smith may be stepping into his final World Cup event. Can he inspire this team to win their 6th World Cup title and wave his final goodbye in grand style?
David Warner - It’s hard to imagine an Australian side without David Warner. He has been a mainstay in the Australian side that saw many glorious years and won multiple accolades. He was the 2nd highest run-getter for Australia in their World Cup-winning campaign in 2015 and was the 2nd highest scorer in the 2019 World Cup edition. Now 36, David Warner prepares for his final act, an event that brings out the best of him. Australia will be banking on his services to go all the way in the tournament.
The Title Contenders
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As we warm up to the event, we look at some popular suitors to lift the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup based on current form and team combinations.
India
Being the host country, India enjoys the home advantage going into the World Cup. The Men in Blue carry a reputation of virtually being unbeatable at home. Apart from the home advantage, the Indian Cricket Team is in sublime form, winning the Asia Cup without breaking a sweat, followed by humbling the Aussies in the recently concluded ODI series.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah bolstered India’s bowling attack, while Md. Siraj and Md. Shami continued to scare the opposition with their pace and attitude. Shubhman Gill is in the form of his life, while the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have come bearing match-winning performances. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have regained their form and have been instrumental in India’s recent winning encounters.
India last won the World Cup in 2011 at home, and with the World Cup returning to India again, the Men in Blue will fancy their chances to not let this one slip away. A balanced side with prominent match-winners, India certainly can be counted as the number-one contender to lift the World Cup
England
The winners of the historic World Cup 2019 at Lord’s, England enter the competition as the defending champions and are the the next favorite to lift the trophy. Ben Stoke came out of retirement in a bid to strengthen England’s middle order and add his much-needed firepower and experience going into the mega event. The southpaw has been since scoring runs at free will, making England look a far more dangerous side. Jos Buttler, who loves playing in India, will be another key figure for England. England boasts of some heavyweights with the likes of Johnny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood, all potent game-changers. A strong balance of aggression, experience, and skill makes England a hot pick.
Australia
The five-time 50-over Cricket World Cup champions, Australia surely know how to pack a punch in big events. Though they lost back-to-back ODI series to South Africa and India, respectively, Australia will not be too bothered. Why so? This Australian squad is packed with some of the finest all-rounders with the likes of Mitchel Marsh, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stonis, adding solid balance and flexibility to the team. Add the experience of David Warner, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc to the mix, and Australia look on course to add another World Cup trophy to their cabinet.
The Dark Horses
There are some clear favorites, and then there are the dark horses! While India, Australia, and England are touted as possible winners, the World Cup is known for its nerve-wrenching twists and turns. Remember when New Zealand almost went against all odds in the 2019 World Cup, only to lose to England on the boundary-count rule (rule now scrapped by ICC):
New Zealand
Once again, it’s the Kiwis who enter the competition as the underdogs. Kane Williamson will be leading the side, however, doubts loom over his fitness after returning from his prolonged knee injury. However, New Zealand enters the World Cup with an experienced side featuring the likes of Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, and Time Southee, all of whom are equipped to handle the World Cup pressure. Can New Zealand champion the underdog story, and go one step further to win their first-ever Cricket World Cup trophy?
Who triumphs and who goes down, only time will tell. What we know as a certainty is that this World Cup will be an absolute treat for every cricket follower. Sling TV brings you all the live action from the World Cup, so you miss nothing from your favorite cricket event.
How to Watch with Sling TV
Stream live Cricket World Cup action on Willow HD with Sling TV. Subscribe to the Desi Binge Plus: $10 for your first month. A complete family entertainment package with live cricket and Desi content from on-demand platforms. The package offers Hotstar Specials, SonyLIV, Star India On Demand, MX ONE, Simply South, Willow HD, and Willow Xtra. Click here for more information, and check out exclusive features on Sling TV that make this your ideal choice for watching the Cricket World Cup.
Here is the full schedule of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, available LIVE on Willow HD with English Commentary and on Willow XTRA with Hindi Commentary. Use the link below to subscribe to Sling's Cricket packages.