Cricket World Cup 2023 might be the most challenging ever

Photo by Kamal Sharma

With one-third of the cricket World Cup 2023 having been played, it seems quite apparent that it might be the most challenging ever. This is the first time that the premier tournament is being played only in India. This vast and diverse land offers varied conditions like no other cricketing nation.

From the mountainous heights of Dharamshala to the sea level of Chennai, and from the banks of the Hoogly to those of the Sabarmati, it will dare the teams to draw deep into their resources and come up with their best. The tournament began during the withdrawing monsoon in the first week of October when it is hot and humid, with the occasional shower. By the time the final takes place in the third week of November, there will be early winter chill.

We have already seen two stunning upsets, and the two founding members of the Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC), now International Cricket Council, England and Australia, are fighting hard to stay in contention. It is also for the first time that the champions of 1975 and 1979, the West Indies, are not playing in the World Cup. The irony is that the team that replaced them, the Netherlands, handed out the most mesmerizing reverse thus far in 2023.

We have seen a spinning track at Chennai, and a batsman’s paradise at Delhi. The other grounds have had largely sporting surfaces. There have been monumental totals and hurricane hundreds, and also curious collapses after comfortable starts. The pacemen have held their own, and the spinners have come into play. There have been inexplicable fielding lapses, and also brilliant displays on the wide expanses of turf. Already, this World Cup has seen much drama and excitement.

Three major venues, Eden Gardens, Wankhede Stadium and Chinnaswamy Stadium are still to host a match. What mysteries will unfold there is anyone’s guess. Two of these centres, Kolkata and Mumbai will stage the semi-finals. The aspiring teams have to wait to assess the conditions there.

It would seem that versatile and quick-witted teams will do well in this showpiece event. It requires teams with depth and allround talent, with the wisdom of experience and the dynamism of youth to corner glory. Successful teams will require balance, seam as well as spin, accomplished openers, and middle-order batsmen who can pick up the pieces, and later accelerate, if a few wickets tumble at the top. And they must have competent lower-order batsmen who can put the icing on the cake. There must be bench strength of quality too, for the odd injury in a settled eleven cannot be ruled out.

It has been observed that sides that adapt quickly to conditions in the same match, within a few overs, have gone on to win. If the pace bowlers are coming on nicely to the bat, the spinners are brought on quickly, and mind you, these must be bowlers of quality and intelligence. Then when the opposing batsmen start to work out the spinners, the seamers are brought back to conjure their tricks with the older ball. The popular view is to bat second after winning the toss with the anticipated dew making life easier, but the two upsets have happened when the fancied chasing teams were bundled out.

All in all, it promises to be an intriguing contest. Not a single team can be taken for granted, and some of the favourites have already been flung on the mat. There may well be one or two surprise semi-finalists. The final in the biggest arena of them all might be one to remember for a long time. The wait is still long yet. May there be some great cricket in the interim.