New Delhi: Cricket icon Viv Richards, a former West Indies batting maestro, is brimming with optimism as he throws his support behind the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team ahead of the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023. Richards, renowned for his remarkable career, shared his sentiment for India and the reasons behind his unwavering faith in the team's success.

"I fancy India, I have a deep-rooted connection with India. I made my Test debut in this country, and it holds a special place in my heart. So, I'm backing India to perform exceptionally well in the tournament. Their massive fan support is a significant advantage that can provide serious encouragement," said Richards in an interview with ICC.

The stage is set for India to replicate their 2011 World Cup triumph on home soil, with the tournament commencing on October 5. Defending champions England will kick off the action, facing off against Kane Williamson's New Zealand side at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the same venue that will host the final showdown. India's campaign will begin with a clash against Australia in Chennai on October 8.

Tournament Format

The ODI World Cup 2023 will witness the participation of ten top-tier teams, making it one of the most extensive World Cups to date. The tournament is scheduled to span from October 5 to November 19, featuring 48 matches over 46 action-packed days. Both the opening match and the thrilling final will be hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Apart from Ahmedabad, the tournament will showcase matches at nine other venues across the country, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. The pre-tournament practice matches will take place in Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.

Eight teams secured their spots in the tournament through the Cricket World Cup Super League, while the remaining two teams earned their berths via the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, held in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands emerged as the final two qualifiers.

Road to the Semifinals and Finals

The competition's top four teams will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for November 15 in Mumbai and November 16 in Kolkata. The ultimate showdown, the World Cup final, is slated for November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with reserve days allocated for both the semifinals and the final match.

India's Squad

Captain Rohit Sharma will lead a formidable Indian squad featuring star players such as Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya. The team's bowling attack will be spearheaded by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, along with spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. With such a talented roster, India aims to clinch their third ODI World Cup title in front of their passionate home supporters.

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