27 June 2023, Mumbai: The schedule for the highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India was revealed on Tuesday during an event jointly hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Mumbai. The tournament will kick off with a clash between the finalists of the previous edition, New Zealand and England, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. The grand finale will also take place at the iconic stadium on November 19. Team India’s first match will be against five-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 8.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team will then travel to Delhi for their second match against Afghanistan on October 11. However, the most anticipated match of the group stage is undoubtedly the clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on October 15. This much-anticipated encounter is expected to draw an audience of over one lakh spectators at the stadium, while millions more will tune in to watch the match live on various digital platforms.
Following this high-profile match, India will face Bangladesh in Pune on October 19, and then take on New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22. The match against the defending champions, England, will be held on October 29 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Furthermore, the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host a league match of the Indian men’s cricket team, where they will face South Africa on November 5. India’s final group stage match will be against a qualifier team in Bengaluru on November 11.
The announcement of the World Cup schedule has generated immense excitement among cricket fans, who are eagerly anticipating the clash between some of the world’s best teams. With a star-studded Indian team and matches scheduled in iconic stadiums across the country, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 promises to be a thrilling and unforgettable tournament for both players and spectators alike.
Article by PRITESH PATEL