Cricket World Cup Build-up

The 13th edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is set to take place from October 5 to November 19, 2023, in India. The one-day international (ODI) cricket tournament has been held every four years since 1975 and is considered the pinnacle of the sport. For the first time, the tournament will be hosted solely by India, who with other countries on the Indian subcontinent had co-hosted the event in 1987, 1996, and 2011.

The tournament will feature 10 teams, eight of which have qualified through the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, a series of matches played between 2020 and 2023. The remaining two spots will be taken by the finalists of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which will be held in Zimbabwe in June and July 2023. The teams that have qualified so far are:

- India (hosts)
- England (defending champions)
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan

The tournament will retain the round-robin format of the last edition, with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches. The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played in Mumbai and Kolkata. The final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which has a capacity of 132,000 spectators and is the largest cricket stadium in the world.

The tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with some of the best players and teams in the world competing for glory. Some of the key players to watch out for are:

- Virat Kohli (India): The captain and batting superstar of India, Kohli is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time. He has scored over 12,000 runs in ODIs at an average of over 59 and has 43 centuries to his name. He will be eager to lead his team to their third World Cup title on home soil.
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand): The skipper and batting maestro of New Zealand, Williamson is known for his calm and composed temperament and his ability to adapt to any situation. He has scored over 6,000 runs in ODIs at an average of over 47 and has 13 centuries to his credit. He will be hoping to avenge his team's heartbreaking loss in the final of the last World Cup against England.
- David Warner (Australia): The explosive opener and vice-captain of Australia, Warner is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. He has scored over 5,000 runs in ODIs at a strike rate of over 95 and has 18 centuries to his name. He will be looking to regain his form and confidence after serving a one-year ban for his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal in 2018.
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): The elegant batsman and captain of Pakistan, Azam is one of the most consistent performers in ODI cricket. He has scored over 3,000 runs in ODIs at an average of over 56 and has 12 centuries to his name. He will be aiming to emulate his idol and predecessor Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992.
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa): The wicketkeeper-batsman and leader of South Africa, de Kock is one of the most exciting talents in the game. He has scored over 5,000 runs in ODIs at a strike rate of over 94 and has 15 centuries to his name. He will be trying to break his team's infamous jinx of never reaching a World Cup final despite being one of the strongest teams in the world.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is expected to be a spectacular event that will showcase the best of cricket and India. Fans around the world will be eagerly waiting for the tournament to begin and witness some thrilling matches and memorable moments. Who will lift the trophy on November 19? Only time will tell.