2023 Cricket World Cup Preview

Welcome to Sports Hub’s 2023 Cricket World Cup preview. The long-awaited tournament is finally here, and we have all the information you need to get up to speed on the prestigious competition. 

From the format and odds to contender analysis and potential sleepers, our Cricket World Cup preview covers all the bases. If you plan to bet on the tournament, you will be pleased to learn that we leave no stone unturned. 

Can India lift the trophy on home soil? Will England defend their title? Or could an outsider upset the odds? Keep reading our 2023 Cricket World Cup preview to find out. 

Cricket World Cup Preview – Key Info & Format Explained 

• Dates: October 5 – November 19 
• Host Nation: India 
• Format: One Day International (ODI) 
• Teams: 10 
• Matches: 48 
• Defending Champion: England 

The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will take place across India between October 5 and November 19. This is the 13th edition of the quadrennial ODI tournament, which started in England back in 1975. 

10 teams will participate in the competition – Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. England is the defending champion, while New Zealand was the runner-up in 2019. 

The tournament begins with all 10 teams in the same group. Once each team has played nine games, the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, with the winning semifinalists advancing to the final in Ahmedabad. 

2023 Cricket World Cup Odds 

• India (+187) 
• Australia (+400) 
• England (+450) 
• New Zealand (+650) 
• Pakistan (+700) 
• South Africa (+850) 
• Sri Lanka (+3300) 
• Bangladesh (+10000) 
• Afghanistan (+12500) 
• Netherlands (+50000) 

As the host nation, India (+187) is the bookies’ favorite to go all the way. The Men in Blue have claimed two Cricket World Cup titles over the years, winning the 1983 edition of the tournament before triumphing on home soil in 2011. 

Australia (+400) and England (+450) are viewed as India’s nearest challengers. The Aussies have won a record five Cricket World Cup titles, while England secured the silverware in London four years ago. 

As you can see, New Zealand (+650), Pakistan (+700) and South Africa (+850) bridge the gap between the favorites and outsiders. Sri Lanka (+3300) sits in limbo, with Bangladesh (+10000), Afghanistan (+12500) and the Netherlands (+50000) in underdog territory. 

Top Contenders for the 2023 Cricket World Cup 

In this section of our Cricket World Cup preview, we take a closer look at the top contenders. India is the bookies’ favorite for multiple reasons, but Australia and England will be confident of outperforming the host nation. 

Of course, teams like New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa are also capable of lifting the trophy, but there is no denying that India, Australia and England possess the strongest rosters at this year’s tournament. 

We will look at a couple of potential sleepers in the next section of our Cricket World Cup preview. First, let’s analyze the leading contenders and discuss whether the bookies have priced the teams correctly. 

Will India Triumph on Home Soil? 

Boasting a population of more than 1.4 billion, India always feels the pressure when it comes to the Cricket World Cup. However, the pressure reaches unparalleled levels when India hosts the tournament. 

The Men in Blue won the 2011 Cricket World Cup on home soil, but they fell at the semifinal stage in 2015 and 2019. It goes without saying that the current crop of superstars will be eager to go one better and make amends this time around. 

Ultimately, India’s roster is littered with big-name players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah. If these world-class performers are at their best throughout the tournament, India will be difficult to stop. 

Could Australia Win a Record-Extending Sixth Title? 

Australia’s Cricket World Cup record speaks for itself. The Aussies have reached seven of the 12 finals over the years, triumphing on five occasions. They even managed to secure three consecutive titles between 1999 and 2007 before regaining the crown in 2015. 

To put things into perspective, no other nation has more than two Cricket World Cup titles. That tells you everything you need to know about Australia’s historical dominance, but is the current roster good enough to go all the way? 

If you’re looking for a short answer to that question, then it’s yes. With superstars like Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis leading the way, the Aussies will back themselves to secure the silverware. 

Can England Defend Their CWC Crown? 

England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup by the barest of margins, defeating New Zealand on the final ball of a super over. Four years later, the reigning champions will bid to defend their crown on Asian soil. 

It could be argued that England boasts the most dangerous batting lineup in ODI cricket, with Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan and Harry Brook all capable of humiliating the best bowlers on the planet. 

That said, there are question marks over the fitness of Ben Stokes, who has struggled with injury in recent times. If Stokes can rediscover his best form, England could clinch back-to-back titles. Still, it remains to be seen whether the talisman can make the desired impact. 

Cricket World Cup Sleepers to Consider 

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the bookies’ favorites, it’s time to assess a couple of sleeper picks. The favorites are priced between +187 and +450, meaning there is plenty of betting value to be found elsewhere. 

Below, we discuss the chances of a former Cricket World Cup champion and two-time runner-up with odds of +3300. We also discuss the chances of a four-time semifinalist priced at +850. 

You have nearly reached the end of our 2023 Cricket World Cup preview, but we’re not finished just yet. If you’re feeling brave and fancy betting against the favorites, why not consider backing the following outsiders? 

South Africa Has a Point to Prove 

It would not be unfair to say that South Africa has gained a reputation as a perennial underachiever over the years. Despite a consistent flow of elite players coming out of the country, the Proteas have never managed to win the Cricket World Cup. 

After falling in the semifinals in 1992, 1999 and 2007, South Africa made it all the way to the last four once again in 2019, only to suffer another agonizing elimination. Can the South Africans finally break their hoodoo this time around? 

Led by captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas possess more than enough quality to challenge for the title. If guys like Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada can rise to the occasion, South Africa could make a lot of bettors very happy. 

Sri Lanka Knows What It Takes to Win 

Sri Lanka boasts an impressive Cricket World Cup history, with one triumph and two runner-up spots in the bank. After winning the 1996 final, the Sri Lankans endured successive final defeats in 2011 and 2015. 

Of course, past superstars such as Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are no longer around, but the current crop of players is capable of causing an upset in India. 

With four knockout places up for grabs, the Sri Lankans will fancy their chances of sneaking into the semifinals ahead of more favored teams. If they can finish in the top four, they will only be two victories away from winning it all. 

2023 Cricket World Cup Preview Wrap-Up 

That concludes our 2023 Cricket World Cup preview. Hopefully, the information on this page will stand you in good stead for both watching and betting on the tournament. 

Although powerhouses like India, Australia and England are favored for a reason, there is plenty of value in the bookies’ Cricket World Cup odds. With the outright prices ranging from +187 to +50000, there is no shortage of intriguing options. 

We will be posting Cricket World Cup picks throughout the entire tournament, so be sure to stick with Sports Hub for expert predictions.