When making an assessment of some of the biggest events on the calendar for the remainder of 2023, not many of them come bigger than the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The 13th edition of the 50-over World Cup is expected to be a huge success, although most of the pressure is seemingly on host nation India heading into the competition.
Given the popularity of cricket in the country, millions of India’s people will be tuning in to watch their beloved nation take on some of cricket’s most formidable forces. Likewise, media attention will be massive, Indian fans will be demanding success and backing their heroes, perhaps by having a flutter on a World Cup win through sites like 10Cric Casino, a popular site for Indian cricket betting, and the nation is likely to put on a truly spectacular feast of cricket for the world to enjoy. Pressure is likely to be huge, though, particularly when assessing India’s role in the tournament as hosts, but also as favourites. Make no mistake about it, this talented Indian line-up is expected to deliver on home soil.
India will be hoping to go one step further than they did at the T20 World Cup
Despite being a different format, India will surely be looking to make up for their T20 World Cup failure that saw them fall at the penultimate hurdle against England and fail to make the final. The statistics are certainly in India’s favour this time around, though, with the host nation going on to win the 50-over World Cup in the last three World Cup tournaments. India will have to use the undoubted huge support that they’ll have on their side as motivation, although with sides like England and Australia likely to put up a strong showi
ng, it might not be as easy as many fans of Indian cricket are expecting. The last time India hosted a tournament was the 2011 World Cup and they managed to come out on top in that one, though, therefore giving Indian cricket fans some understandable hope.
India must be more aggressive with the bat
Having most of the media attention and pulling in the largest crowds will certainly put much of the spotlight on the Indian team during the tournament. The hope is that, despite being under undoubted pressure, the Indian players show no fear and be more aggressive with the bat from the offset. Likewise, being aggressive with the ball will strike fear into India’s opponents and potentially increase their chances of victory, too. After all, this is an Indian team that has been exposed on numerous occasions after struggling to find the aggression needed to dismantle past opponents, most notably in the 10-wicket hammering against Australia. Whether or not the same scenes will unfold when the World Cup in India kicks off remains to be seen, but the country’s first test when the tournament starts in October will be a chance for them to play without fear and show an aggressive streak that fans are desperate to see.
India have underachieved in white-ball cricket for too long
While the desire to win is surely there and many fans and experts are demanding more aggression from the Indian team, there is also massive pressure on their shoulders following a series of notable underachievements in white-ball cricket. India has the talent to reign supreme and the immense support of the nation behind them, but past underachievements and the undoubted pressure that comes with that will need to be used as motivation if India are to come out on top in front of their people.
