Follow UsThe ICC have announced the schedule for the upcoming World Cup in India. The tournament will kick-start with the with 2019 finalists England and New Zealand facing each other on October 5 in Ahmedabad. Mumbai and Kolkata will host the semi-finals, on November 15 and 16 respectively, while the final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19. One of the biggest matches of the World Cup - India vs Pakistan - will also take place in Ahmedabad on October 15.
India will begin their World Cup campaign against five-time champions Australia on October 8 in Chennai.
"The World Cup is coming back to India after 12 years. We were supposed to host the 2020 T20 World Cup in India but couldn't due to COVID," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said while announcing the schedule in an event in Mumbai.
"There's a lot of debate going on with regards to the ODI format. After this tournament in India, the debate will surely end."
Speaking at the event former India opener, Virender Sehwag said, "The only bowler who made me lose my sleep was Muttiah Muralitharan." The duo clashed in the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai.
Speaking of the tournament, Sehwag, who believes India, Pakistan, England and Australia will be the semi-finalists, further added, "MS Dhoni only ate khichdi throughout the 2011 World Cup. Everyone was being superstitious during the entire tournament. MS Dhoni's six, Kapil Dev's catch still gives goosebumps. That's how big, the ODI World Cup is."
A total of 48 matches will be played in the 10-team tournament hosted by India, including five double-headers. The mega event will take place for the first time in the subcontinent since 2011 when India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka co-hosted it.
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Chennai, Pune, Bengaluru, Kolkata will host all the matches this time around. All matches will begin at 2 PM IST. However, on the double-header days, the first match will commence at 10.30 AM IST, while the second game will be played from 2 PM IST.
Also, according to the ICC media release, "If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata. If India qualify for the semifinals, they will play in Mumbai unless playing against Pakistan, in which case they will play in Kolkata."
The announcement was made in Mumbai in the presence of BCCI secretary Jay Shah, former India opener Virender Sehwag, spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, and ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice.
India's schedule at the ICC World Cup 2023:
vs Australia, October 8, Chennai
vs Afghanistan, October 11, Delhi
vs Pakistan, October 15, Ahmedabad
vs Bangladesh, October 19, Pune
vs New Zealand, October 22, Dharamsala
vs England, October 29, Lucknow
vs Qualifier 2, November 2, Mumbai
vs South Africa, November 5, Kolkata
vs Qualifier 1, November 11, Bengaluru