India will play host to nine of the best ODI-playing countries in the world when the ICC Men's ODI World Cup starts on October 5. Defending Champions England will face New Zealand, who were the other finalists in 2019 and rekindle their rivalry and also kickstart the tournament in India as the opener is set to be played in Ahmedabad on October 5.
The hosts will reignite their bid for a third ODI World Cup three days later when they play heavyweights Australia on Sunday, October 8 in Chennai. Minnows Afghanistan will be their next assignment, travelling to Delhi to face them on Wednesday, October 11.
India will face their rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Sunday, October 15, Bangladesh in Pune on Thursday, October 19; New Zealand in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22, England in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29; The second qualifier in Mumbai on Thursday, November 2; South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5; and the first qualifier in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 11, also the penultimate day of the league stage.
Among all the teams, India will be playing at nine of the ten venues during the league phase.
ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule Live: Here is India's fixture list
IND vs AUS: Sunday, October 8; Chennai
IND vs AFG: Wednesday, October 11; Delhi
IND vs PAK: Sunday, October 15, Ahmedabad
IND vs BAN: Thursday, October 19, Pune
IND vs NZ: Sunday, October 22, Dharamsala
IND vs ENG: Sunday, October 29, Lucknow
IND vs Qualifier 2: Thursday, November 2, Mumbai
IND vs SA: Sunday, November 5, Kolkata
IND vs Qualifier 1: Saturday, November 11, Bengaluru
FORMAT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Much like the last edition in 2019, 10 teams will participate in the tournament. Seven have already qualified by virtue of the Cricket World Cup Super League, while India were already in the tournament as hosts. The remaining two teams will emerge from the ODI World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe. The two finalists will make it to the mega event in October where each team will play the other nine in a round-robin format. The top four will qualify for the knockout stage and the semifinals.
All three knock-out fixtures will be day-night affairs, with the matches beginning at 14:00 local time.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule: Curtain raises on October 5 as India play first match on 8th, battle Pakistan on October 15