Should you decide to watch every single ball of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is returning to India after 12 years, you will need to set aside at least 400 hours. That is enough time to binge Breaking Bad seven times over or cover the circumference of the earth eight times by air. It is also more than enough time to reply to every single unread email in your inbox. Having said that, there are better, or perhaps, more urgent things, to do for all of us. Which is why My Kolkata has prepared a list of 11 must-see matches that you cannot miss at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 (to be broadcast on the Star Sports network and Disney+Hotstar). For everything else, there are highlights.
England vs New Zealand
When: October 5, 2pm IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The first match of this year’s World Cup will be a repeat of the last one’s final, with New Zealand gunning for revenge after the cruellest of stipulations — more boundaries hit — crowned England champions at the Kiwis’ expense at Lord’s in 2019. That thrilling final is the only time England and New Zealand have tied a game at the World Cup, with the Black Caps winning five and the Three Lions winning four. In what should be a high-scoring curtain raiser for the tournament, keep an eye out for Jos Buttler, who loves batting in Ahmedabad, as evident from his IPL record.
India’s clashes with Australia and Pakistan are among the most anticipated of the tournament
Australia vs India
When: October 8, 2pm IST
Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Five-time champions Australia lead two-time winners India 8-4 in World Cup clashes, although India have won two out of the last three. The nature of the Chennai surface means that any of India’s spinners — Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and the returning Ravichandran Ashwin — can prove to be a match-winner. Australia, for their part, have Glenn Maxwell, who pocketed four Indian scalps in the most recent bilateral meeting between the two sides.
India vs Pakistan
When: October 14, 2pm IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The most anticipated match of the World Cup has been moved ahead by a day, though that is unlikely to cheer up Pakistan, who have played seven and lost seven against India at the World Cup. After a convincing win against their arch rivals in the Asia Cup, India have both form and history on their side. They also have Virat Kohli, who is accustomed to delivering on the biggest stage against India’s biggest opponent.
England vs South Africa
When: October 21, 2pm IST
Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
This looks like one of those encounters where a few World Cup batting records can tumble. Especially if England’s big guns get going. Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium is arguably most suited to South Africa’s all-round skills, which means that the likes of Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Kagiso Rabada should be in business. England narrowly edge the head-to-head with four wins in the World Cup to South Africa’s three, with an eighth clash poised to be more decisive than a regular round-robin face-off.
The moment Australia beat New Zealand to become world champions in Melbourne in 2015
Australia vs New Zealand
When: October 28, 10.30am IST
Where: HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
Eight out of 11 wins in past World Cups against New Zealand will matter little for Australia, given the quality this New Zealand team brings to the table. An early start at Dharamshala makes the toss a vital factor, with the pace batteries of both teams equipped to exploit any signs of moisture on the pitch. Tim Southee and Mitchell Starc, who seem to save their best for this Down Under derby, could be the key men here.
England vs India
When: October 29, 2 pmIST
Where: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
The last time England played India in a World Cup in the latter’s backyard, we got an instant classic in the form of the tied runfest that was their group stage contest in Bengaluru in 2011. A similar match, at least in terms of runs, is on the cards in Lucknow, with India pushing to draw level against England with four wins apiece in World Cup cricket.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan
When: October 31, 2pm IST
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
In what will only be the third meeting between these two nations in World Cups (both have a win each so far), it is fitting that Kolkata will play host, given the cultural connections both countries share with the City of Joy. For Bangladesh, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will know the Eden pitch better than most (given his IPL experience), while for Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi should relish the purchase the Eden pitch can lend to his pace, even more so under lights.
Kohli is the only player from the India-Sri Lanka final in Mumbai in 2011 who is still active in 2023
India vs Sri Lanka
When: November 2, 2pm IST
Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
A rematch of the World Cup final from 12 years ago at the same setting is going to make for a special occasion. Kohli, the sole survivor from April 2, 2011, loves scoring centuries against Sri Lanka. And if everything goes according to plan, this might just be the game for India’s run machine to eclipse Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49 ODI hundreds (Kohli has 47 at the time of writing). It will be up to Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka, to ensure that no such thing comes to pass. For the record, India and Sri Lanka are level at four World Cup wins against one another.
Australia vs England
When: November 4, 2pm IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The white-ball version of the Ashes rivalry will take centre stage in Ahmedabad, with England looking to better their 3-6 scoreline against Australia in World Cups. This is precisely the kind of match where a certain Ben Stokes can come alive for England. While for Australia, David Warner, playing his last major tournament in baggy green, should be just as motivated to emerge as the X-factor.
India vs South Africa
When: November 5, 2pm IST
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India play their first World Cup match at Eden since the infamous semi-final defeat against Sri Lanka in 1996. A win here will not only help India match South Africa’s three wins against the Men in Blue in World Cups, but also give Rohit Sharma and Co. a golden chance to realise their mission to top the pool standings, which, on paper, should give them an easier draw in the semi-finals.
England do not have great memories of playing at the Eden Gardens, where they were stunned by the West Indies in the T20 World Cup in 2016
England vs Pakistan
When: November 11, 2pm IST
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
As the penultimate fixture of round one of the World Cup, this match could decide the destiny of the final four. Pakistan have won five out of the 10 games they have played against England (with one no-result) and will be confident of using their familiarity with the Eden conditions to overturn England, whose memories of the gut-wrenching loss at Eden in the T20 World Cup final of 2016 could go against them.
It is anybody’s guess as to how the semi-finalists will line up. If we were to strictly follow the ICC ODI rankings, then India should meet South Africa in Mumbai on November 15 and Pakistan should take on Australia in Kolkata on November 16 in the last four. And so emerges the tantalising prospect of another Indo-Pak showdown in Ahmedabad on November 19, this time with the World Cup on the line!
