The anticipation for the Cricket World Cup in India is reaching a fever pitch as defending champions England prepare to face New Zealand on Thursday. Despite the challenges leading up to the tournament, both teams are eagerly awaiting the showdown on October 14.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins expressed his excitement about the tournament, highlighting the unique global interest in matches like India vs. Pakistan. He emphasized that such contests draw a massive audience from around the world.
India, the champions of the 2011 World Cup held on the subcontinent, are considered strong contenders once again. With recent success in the Asia Cup and the presence of superstar batsman Virat Kohli, India is among the top teams to watch.
Australia, boasting the experienced batting prowess of David Warner and Steve Smith, is also a strong contender and is aiming for its sixth world title.
The tournament format involves all 10 teams playing each other once, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The final match will take place in Ahmedabad on November 19.
Jos Buttler, captain of England, believes that his team doesn’t feel the pressure of defending the title, as they embark on their campaign at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium in the world. He emphasized that they are starting with a clean slate and have ambitious dreams of winning the tournament.