The schedule for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 was released at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday, 100 days before the tournament starts on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Indian cricket star Virat Kohli gave his first thoughts on the schedule. This is the first time that India will be in charge of the whole 50-over World Cup on its own. In 1987, 1996, and 2011, they co-hosted with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, which are also in the subcontinent.
India was knocked out of the last tournament in England after a heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in the semi-final. Kohli will be one of the key members of India’s team as they try to win an ICC trophy for the first time in ten years. The last time India won an ICC trophy was in 2013 when MS Dhoni led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy.
Kohli, who won the World Cup in 2011, also chose the stadium where he is most excited to play during the tournament. The No. 3 player for India said that the Wankhede will make him feel like no other venue in this World Cup.
“Personally, I’m looking forward to playing in Mumbai. It’d be great to experience that atmosphere again,” Kohli told ICC.
India beat Sri Lanka in the final of the 2011 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium. When India was trying to get 275 runs, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag both got out. When Kohli came in to bat at number four, he played a key 35-run innings that led to an 83-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir.
“I was still very young. I saw how much it meant to them. “I know what they went through and how special it is to play at home in the World Cup. I know how excited they will be,” Kohli said.
Kohli will get to experience the same environment again at the World Cup in 2023. On November 2, India will play Qualifier 2 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. On November 15, the semi-final will be held at the well-known venue.
India play their group matches in nine different sites – Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. On October 9, in Chennai, they start their war against Australia.
