2023 is set to be a huge year in Indian cricket, as India plays host to the latest renewal of the World Cup. It will take place between October and November, and it will be the first time the tournament has been held solely in India.

October 23rd 2022 will always be special in my heart. Never felt energy like that in a cricket game before. What a blessed evening that was 💫🙏 pic.twitter.com/rsil91Af7a

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 26, 2022

The upcoming World Cup may be the last chance for some of India’s biggest stars to lift the trophy again. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of the country’s most consistent players over the last decade, are now 35 and 34 years old respectively. Kohli has had a great year, with one of the highlights being his performance against Pakistan at the 2022 Asia Cup.

Despite their talent, India has underperformed in white-ball cricket in recent tournaments. They have only once lifted the World Cup trophy in the last 38 years, that success came in 2011 when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Zaheer Khan all started for the country.

India, who are the number one ranked team in the T20I rankings with the ICC, has not done much better in the 20-over format of the game either. They failed to reach the final of the Asia Cup back in September. Defeat to Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Super Fours stage of that tournament ended their pursuit of the trophy in Dubai.

Sharma’s side had to settle for the last four at the T20 World Cup in Australia. They were beaten by England in the semi-final, going down by 10 wickets in that contest.

India Favorite to Prevail on Home Soil

As of the 19th of December, India is the +250 favorite to win the 2023 World Cup in the outright odds markets, for those betting on cricket. India has performed well outside of tournaments in 2022. They won five consecutive series from their victory at home to the West Indies through to a home success against South Africa.

In that stretch of 15 games, India won 13 matches and lost just twice. Even when some of the regulars in the starting XI were rested, they showed they had players who were good enough to step in.

One of the best ODI series in 2022 came in England where India played three matches. The visitors prevailed in the opener at the Oval, the hosts then leveled up at Lord’s, while India won the decider in Manchester at Old Trafford by five wickets.

Unfortunately for India, they have ended the year with back-to-back series defeats. They went down 1-0 in a series in New Zealand which was hit by bad weather, while more recently, Bangladesh won a home series 2-1.

India’s opening ODI assignment in 2023 will come at home to Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They will play both of those countries in three matches. Two months later, they will host Australia for three ODIs.

England Set To Be Defending Champions 

England go into the 2023 World Cup in India looking to become the first nation since Australia in 2007 to defend their trophy. They were successful on home soil in 2019, beating New Zealand in the final at Lord’s.

Before the 2019 tournament, England had never won a World Cup before. They were outstanding in that competition, playing an aggressive form of cricket, which has seen them become one of the most feared international teams in all three formats of the game.

Jos Buttler’s side made it a winning double at the T20 World Cup in 2021. They defeated Pakistan in the final following that empathetic success over India in their last four encounters.

Jos Bhai has been announced as the ICC Men’s Player of the month for November 2022! 👏

Congratulations @josbuttler 💗
So happy for you! #RoyalsFamily | #HallaBol pic.twitter.com/1wKLoXzGD6

— Super Royals (@RRSuperRoyals) December 12, 2022

Many of England’s stars now feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) so they will be familiar with conditions in India next October and November. Buttler took over from Eoin Morgan earlier this year and the Rajasthan Royals opening batsman has made a smooth transition into that role.

As well as England, Australia, and New Zealand will both be considered strong contenders for the trophy in 2023. No country has won the tournament more times than Australia, they have been successful on five occasions. 

The Kiwis have also been consistent in World Cup cricket over the last decade. They reached the final in 2015 and 2019 but were beaten on both occasions. Their results in ODI cricket over the last 12 months have been strong.

The full format for the 2023 World Cup will be decided in May at the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.