The ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 gets underway in India on October 5, bringing the supporters’ long-awaited moment to a close.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the tournament’s opening match between the defending champions England and last year’s runner-up New Zealand, as well as the championship match. The major event will feature 10 teams competing for the coveted trophy over 10 cities through November 19.
What makes the World Cup’s opening match this year unique?
The hosts will not, however, be participating in the opening game of the World Cup for just the third time ever.
The first time it occurred was in 1979, when West Indies played India in place of England, the tournament’s hosts.
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The second time this occurred was in 1996, when India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka jointly hosted the World Cup. The opening match that year was played in Ahmedabad between England and New Zealand.
The entire World Cup will be staged in one nation for the first time in 2023, with India taking on the duty of hosting the teams at 10 different locations.
However, because they are the only team to play in nine separate venues, the Blues will be the ones to endure from the most demanding travel schedule.
Back in 1975, when the first World Cup ever held in human history was played. The competition was held in England, with the home team against India in the opening match.
The 1983 World Cup was likewise held in England, and it began with a match between the home team and New Zealand.
Pakistan and India co-hosted the 1987 World Cup, the first time it was contested in a 50-over format, with the former hosting the event’s opening match against Sri Lanka.
The opening match of the 1992 World Cup featured the joint hosts, Australia and New Zealand, going up against one another. The 2015 World Cup was held in the two nations, where the Black Caps faced Sri Lanka in the opening round.
England faced the Islanders in the opening match of the 1999 World Cup, which the UK and the Netherlands jointly hosted.
The 2003 World Cup was held in South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, with West Indies playing the Proteas in the tournament’s first match.
West Indies hosted the entire 2007 World Cup, and they were matched up against Pakistan in the opening game.
The 2011 World Cup was co-hosted by Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh, with the latter two participating in the opening match.
England and Wales co-hosted the 2019 World Cup, with the former hosting the tournament’s opening match against South Africa.
