For the first time, the West Indies have failed to qualify for the World Cup!

The Men’s ICC World Cup 2023 (ODI) that kick-started on October 5, 2023, began with a surprise with the defending champions England losing to New Zealand in their opening match. However, there were no surprises when India beat Australia in its opening match by 6 wickets and 52 balls to spare. What will be interesting to see is the match on October 14 in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium when the Rohit Sharma-led squad will take on Pakistan, their bitter rivals.

It appears that the stars favour India as India and Pakistan have faced each other seven times in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and all the games have been won by India. The only time Pakistan beat India was at the T20 World Cup in 2021 when Pakistan chased the target of 151 runs set by India without losing a wicket.

Given these interesting stats for the World Cup this year, here are some more interesting facts.

·         It is the first time that India will be the sole host of the ODI World Cup.

·         It is the first time that the tournament will be played with a new format, with all 10 teams playing each other once in the round-robin stage.

·         The tournament will feature a new set of rules, including penalties for slow over-rates and restrictions on the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

·         The tournament will be played in 10 stadiums, across 10 different cities in India.

·         The tournament will feature a number of new players, including some who are making their World Cup debuts like Shubman Gill.

·         The tournament will be played in front of some of the most passionate cricket fans in the world.

·         The tournament will be a major test for the Indian team, who are the favourites to win.

·         The tournament will be a chance for other teams, such as Australia and England, to reassert their dominance in ODI cricket.

·         The tournament will be a global event, with billions of people watching around the world.

This is the last time that 10 teams will compete in the tournament. The 2027 World Cup will expand to 14 teams. The 2023 World Cup will feature a new rule where no venue will be allowed to have boundaries less than 70 metres in any direction from the striker’s end. This rule is designed to promote fast-paced cricket and discourage bowlers from bowling short-pitched deliveries.

Unique features of this World Cup

1.       This will be the first time that the use of a Decision Review System (DRS) will be mandatory in all matches. DRS has previously been optional in some matches and series.

2.       The tournament will also feature a new Player of the Match award. The award will be given to the player who has made the biggest impact on the match, regardless of their team’s performance.

3.       It is the first time that the West Indies have failed to qualify for the tournament.

4.       This is the first time that the Netherlands have qualified for the tournament since 2007.