The grand spectacle of ICC World Cup 2023 culminated with Australia securing a historic sixth title by triumphing over hosts India in the final clash at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.
(Photo courtesy: ICC)
India had surged into the finale with an impressive ten consecutive victories, establishing themselves as the prime contenders for the championship. However, Australia, renowned for their dominant prowess, arrived with meticulous strategies, dashing the aspirations of countless Indian fans yearning to witness a victorious moment led by Rohit Sharma’s squad.
Despite the disappointment, the tournament bestowed enduring memories. From Virat Kohli’s monumental 50th ODI century to Quinton de Kock’s scorching performance in his farewell appearance in this format, the event sparkled with suspense, thrill, and the unforeseen.
This edition marked a significant milestone as India, for the first time since 1983, exclusively hosted the 50-over competition. With a remarkable repository of over 25 ICC-recognized international venues, India showcased its adeptness in independently managing such colossal sporting events.
Ten distinctive stadiums were handpicked for the tournament, serving as battlegrounds for ten formidable teams to compete before delving into the knockout rounds. Ultimately, India, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa emerged as the formidable quartet navigating through the preliminary encounters into the crucial phases of the tournament.
AFG vs AUS, Mumbai
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In a thrilling contest, Australia clinched victory by three wickets with 19 balls to spare. Afghanistan, posing a serious threat after setting a formidable 291, had Australia reeling at 91 for 7. The Wankhede pitch initially favored swing and seam, but as conditions normalized, Glenn Maxwell orchestrated an extraordinary ODI innings. His staggering 201 off 128 deliveries accounted for an astonishing 82.37% of the runs while he remained at the crease, propelling Australia to victory with 3.1 overs left.
PAK vs SA, Chennai
South Africa secured a nail-biting win by one wicket with 16 balls remaining. Initially cruising at 206 for 4 in the 34th over while chasing Pakistan’s 270, South Africa faced a dramatic turnaround. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, applied pressure, leaving South Africa needing 11 runs with just one wicket in hand. Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj showcased nerve and resilience, guiding South Africa to a thrilling one-wicket victory.
AUS vs NZ, Dharamsala
Australia clinched a narrow five-run win against New Zealand. David Warner and Travis Head’s explosive partnership saw Australia cross 200 within 24 overs. Despite the prospect of a 400-plus total, New Zealand’s spinners contained the innings, restricting the final total to 388. Rachin Ravindra’s impressive 116 off 89 set the stage for a tense finish. Jimmy Neesham’s swift fifty brought New Zealand close, but falling short by seven runs off two balls, he missed a full toss and was run out attempting to regain strike, leaving New Zealand narrowly defeated. Neesham’s desperate dive was reminiscent of the heartbreaking 2019 final.
IND vs NZ, 1st semi-final, Mumbai
India emerged victorious by a margin of 70 runs in the gripping encounter. The seemingly comfortable lead belied the intensity of the game, particularly when an inspired Daryl Mitchell partnered with Kane Williamson, constructing a formidable 181-run partnership during New Zealand’s pursuit of 398. India’s fielding displayed lapses, visibly upsetting skipper Rohit Sharma, who rallied his team during the drinks break. Mohammed Shami, having previously dropped Williamson, broke the tension at the Wankhede with a pivotal double strike.
(Photo courtesy: ICC)
Jasprit Bumrah intervened just as the partnership between Mitchell and Glenn Phillips appeared menacing, dismissing Phillips with a well-executed slower ball. The exceptional Shami returned to dismantle the lower order, securing India’s place in the final.
SA vs AUS, 2nd semi-final, Kolkata
Australia clinched victory by three wickets with 16 balls remaining, despite South Africa’s early struggle at 24 for 4. David Miller’s remarkable century, supported by Heinrich Klaasen and Gerald Coetzee, propelled South Africa to 212. Initially appearing inadequate as Travis Head and David Warner dominated, South Africa’s spinners regained control on a turning pitch. A late, spirited performance by Coetzee unsettled Australia, testing their nerves before they eventually crossed the finish line.
Numerous half chances throughout the innings eluded South Africa, who missed the opportunity to secure a spot in the final once again.
SA vs NED, Dharamsala
(Photo courtesy: AFP)
The Netherlands secured a surprising victory by 38 runs against a strong South African side eyeing a third consecutive win. Despite having the Netherlands at 112 for 6 in the rain-curtailed 43-overs-a-side match, a resilient 78 by Scott Edwards boosted the underdogs to 245. However, it seemed insufficient against South Africa’s robust batting lineup. Netherlands’ bowlers struck early, overcoming lower-order resistance to secure a memorable upset.
NZ vs PAK, Bengaluru
Pakistan emerged victorious by a margin of 21 runs using the DLS method. In a crucial match where Pakistan had to win, conceding 401 runs seemed an insurmountable chase. However, Fakhar Zaman defied all odds. Despite the looming threat of rain, Zaman launched a remarkable assault on both the seamers and spinners, keeping Pakistan ahead of the DLS par score. Unfortunately, the match concluded prematurely due to rain, robbing the fans of a deserving conclusion. Nonetheless, Zaman’s spectacular 126 off 81 deliveries kept Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
SL vs PAK, Hyderabad
In a gripping encounter, Pakistan secured a six-wicket victory with 10 balls remaining. Mohammed Rizwan, battling cramps, exhibited immense fortitude as he scored an impressive 131 off 121 deliveries to successfully chase down Sri Lanka’s formidable total of 344. Despite losing two early wickets, Rizwan alongside Abdullah Shafique reconstructed Pakistan’s innings, maintaining the required run rate through their substantial 177-run partnership. Even after Shafique’s dismissal, Rizwan persevered through evident discomfort, occasionally pausing for treatment but persistently delivering crucial shots to steer Pakistan toward victory.
PAKvAFG, Chennai
In a historic victory, Gurbaz, Ibrahim, and Rahmat led Afghanistan to their maiden ODI win against Pakistan, chasing 283—their highest successful chase in ODI history. This triumph marked Afghanistan’s first victory over Pakistan in eight attempts in this format, signaling a significant milestone for the emerging cricketing nation.
Key Matches and Moments: Highlight significant matches, thrilling moments, upsets, and standout performances. Include details about high-scoring games, close encounters, and any unexpected outcomes.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Team of the Tournament comprises standout players from five prominent teams, showcasing a glittering lineup. Stars hailing from the championship-winning Australia, runners-up India, as well as semi-finalists South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, all claim their well-deserved spots.
(Photo courtesy: ICC)
Among the notable inclusions are all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and spinner Adam Zampa, pivotal figures in Australia’s record-breaking sixth triumph. India’s representation is robust, featuring six standout players like KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah, alongside top run-scorers Kohli and Sharma, and leading wicket-taker Mohammed Shami.
The team of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023:
Virat Kohli (India) – 765 runs at 95.62
KL Rahul (India) – 452 runs at 75.33
Rohit Sharma (c) (India) – 597 runs at 54.27
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 552 runs at 69
Quinton de Kock (wk) (South Africa) – 594 runs at 59.40
Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – 400 runs at 66.66 and six wickets at 55
Ravindra Jadeja (India) – 120 runs at 40 and 16 wickets at 24.87
Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 20 wickets at 18.65
Adam Zampa (Australia) – 23 wickets at 22.39
Mohammed Shami (India) – 24 wickets at 10.70
Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka) – 21 wickets at 25
12th player: Gerald Coetzee (South Africa) – 20 wickets at 19.80
Selected for the Team of the Tournament in the second consecutive 50-over World Cup, Sharma’s performance at the top of India’s order was pivotal. Despite a slow start against Australia, he bounced back emphatically with a stunning 131 runs off just 84 balls against Afghanistan, earning the Player of the Match award. He consistently performed, scoring over 40 runs in all matches except one, including a significant 86 against Pakistan and a notable presence in the final against Australia.
Partnering Sharma at the top, Quinton de Kock bid adieu to his ODI career in style. Making history, he became the first wicket-keeper in World Cup history to surpass 500 runs and claim 20 dismissals in a single tournament. His performance fell just shy of Sharma’s record-breaking five centuries, with De Kock hitting four centuries for South Africa on their journey to the semi-finals.
Adding strength to the top order, Kohli emerged as the leading run-scorer, smashing records with an astounding 765 runs at an average of 95.62. His standout performance came in the semi-final against New Zealand, where his 117 runs led India to their first final in 12 years.
Mitchell secured the number four position with two impressive centuries against India in his maiden 50-over World Cup, amassing a total of 552 runs, while India’s Rahul, positioned at number five, contributed crucial knocks throughout the tournament, including a century against the Netherlands and a top score of 66 in the final.
Maxwell, batting at number six, sealed the final for Australia with an explosive 106 off 44 balls against the Netherlands. His performance also included a monumental 201 not out against Afghanistan, securing Australia’s spot in the semi-finals.
Jadeja earned the second all-rounder spot for India, showcasing his bowling prowess by securing a five-wicket haul against South Africa and overtaking records previously held by Yuvraj Singh and Anil Kumble for most wickets by an Indian spinner in a single World Cup.
Bumrah, known for his early wicket-taking ability, claimed 20 wickets in the tournament, playing a crucial role in India’s campaign, while Madushanka, a budding Sri Lankan talent, left a mark with notable performances against India, the Netherlands, Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Zampa’s craftiness with the ball earned him 23 wickets, including consecutive four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, ultimately equalling Muttiah Muralitharan’s record for most wickets in a single World Cup.
Shami’s standout performance in the semi-final against New Zealand, where he recorded figures of 7/xx, secured his spot in the top wicket-takers list, leading with mesmerizing displays against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
As the 12th man, Gerald Coetzee emerged as a key force for South Africa, claiming 20 wickets in eight matches and becoming the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in a single edition of the World Cup. His consistent performance proved crucial in the absence of key players due to injuries.
India reportedly gained a significant boost of USD 2.6 billion to its GDP because of hosting the showpiece event
(Photo courtesy: ICC)
A major chunk of the ICC’s earnings from the ODI World Cup Cricket stems from broadcasting and media rights. The ICC licenses broadcasting rights to sports channels worldwide for live match telecasts. Presently, Star Sports holds the exclusive rights for all ICC events, securing them for USD 1.8 billion until 2023.
The ongoing ICC World Cup Cricket 2023 is estimated to bring in around USD 534 million (approximately INR 4,400 crores) through broadcasting rights. Channels also generate revenue via advertisements, drawing companies from diverse sectors to market their products to a global audience.
As per the Disney Star announcement, 26 brands have partnered with the official broadcasters – Star Sports Network on TV and Disney+ Hotstar for digital streaming. The roster of advertisers includes PhonePe, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Dream11, Hindustan Unilever, Coca-Cola, Havells, IndusInd Bank, and others.
The ICC secures various sponsors for the World Cup Cricket, ranging from global sponsors to social media sponsors and category-specific sponsors. Each sponsor contributes an estimated USD 30 to 40 million to the ICC.
This category encompasses revenue streams like official merchandise sales by the ICC during the World Cup tournament. Additionally, the ICC also earns a portion of the revenue from match ticket sales.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 marked a historic milestone, boasting the highest attendance ever recorded in an ICC event. Over 1,250,307 fans poured through the gates, witnessing an epic tournament that culminated in Australia securing their sixth title.
The event kicked off with a record-breaking attendance for a Men’s Cricket World Cup opening match as England clashed with New Zealand, a rematch of the 2019 final. The fervour peaked during India versus Pakistan fixture, drawing the largest crowd in ICC World Cup history on October 14.
This staggering attendance figure of over 1.25 million sets a new pinnacle in cricket history, surpassing the turnout of any previous ICC event. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand saw 1,016,420 spectators, while the 2019 edition in England and Wales hosted 752,000 fans.
The 13th edition of the Men’s Cricket World Cup, held in India, not only surpassed these figures but also shattered numerous broadcast and digital viewership records. This underscores the sport’s global reach and its ever-growing popularity on a worldwide scale.
Glenn Maxwell’s Monumental 201:*
One of the standout moments was Glenn Maxwell’s astonishing innings, scoring an incredible 201*, setting a new bar for individual performances. Maxwell’s exceptional display of skill, precision, and endurance left a lasting impression on cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Virat Kohli’s Batting Mastery:
Virat Kohli’s dominance with the bat was unparalleled, amassing a staggering 765 runs throughout the tournament. His consistency, determination, and cricketing genius propelled India’s batting lineup and cemented his place as one of the finest batsmen in the game.
(Photo credit: AFP)
Mohammad Shami’s Wicket-Taking Prowess:
Mohammad Shami’s bowling wizardry was the talk of the tournament, claiming a remarkable 24 wickets. His ability to dismantle opposition with precision and control showcased his mastery of the craft and played a pivotal role in India’s success.
India emerged as a force to be reckoned with, boasting an impressive win percentage of 90.9%. Their tenacious performances and strategic brilliance underlined their prowess as a cohesive unit, securing ten victories and establishing their dominance throughout the tournament.
The tournament witnessed monumental statistics that redefined cricketing benchmarks. From the highest innings score of 428/5 by South Africa to the thrilling clash between Australia and New Zealand that amassed a staggering 771 runs, the World Cup shattered records and thrilled audiences globally.
When the ICC initially engaged media planners at the tournament’s onset, they highlighted concerns about the changing narrative influenced by the T20 explosion, the identity crisis looming over ODI cricket, and the restricted ten-team format. These apprehensions, however, have been eased by the unprecedented turnouts, both in stadiums and on television.
Yet, it’s narrow-minded to view this World Cup solely as a judgment on ODI cricket. The astonishing performance of the home team attracted crowds regardless of whether it was a T20 or an ODI World Cup. Spectators flocked not only to the home matches but also to numerous non-India fixtures, resulting in a total spectator count exceeding a million.
Looking ahead to the upcoming cycle from 2024 to 2031, India, despite being the epicenter of the sport’s commercial activities, can only host three white-ball events. Among the eight world events, four will adopt the 50-over format, with two of these scheduled outside India.
(Photo Credit: PTI)
However, the more pressing query revolves around the fate of ODI matches between World Cups, as highlighted by former South African captain and administrator Graeme Smith in a recent conversation with Hindustan Times.
“The World Cups will always be huge. The question is how much ODI cricket is played in-between and how do you give context to each bilateral cricket series,” he said.
Joining the ICC Hall of Fame, Arvinda de Silva sees ODIs as a fusion of T20’s dynamism and speed along with Test cricket’s endurance and tactical depth.
These opinions aren’t solely the echoes of cricketers nostalgic for a pre-T20 era, clinging to a product losing its shine rapidly. For many, a complete 50-over tournament remains satisfying after an abundance of T20 matches. The deliberate pace of ODIs has facilitated moments like Mohammed Shami’s rise as a hero, strategically setting up batters with his consistent length bowling. It’s allowed Henrich Klaasen to endure the scorching Mumbai heat, crafting a timeless performance, and enabled Glenn Maxwell to showcase the innings of a lifetime, doing justice to his unconventional skills—something that the fast-paced T20 format might not have permitted.
The ICC isn’t rushing to phase out ODIs, and it’s not solely because of the legends’ opinions. There are already established broadcast deals lined up for events in the Indian market from 2024 to 2027, as well as for the England and South Africa markets spanning from 2024 to 2031.
If we delve deeper into the realm of sporting federations, it becomes evident that many bilateral matches are struggling to draw substantial crowds, almost mirroring the attendance seen in Test cricket. Even in India, there’s a noticeable trend where people tend to seek shade, resulting in a sparse audience during the initial innings, only to gather for the second innings played under floodlights. The essence of ODIs lies in its structure – 100 overs stretched over eight hours, essentially a fusion of T20’s spectator-friendly nature within a longer time frame.
The survival of bilateral ODI cricket faces uncertainty in the wake of the T20 leagues’ global prominence. It prompts the need for adjustments, a path that has been traversed before – the reduction of overs from 60 to 50 and alterations in powerplay rules.
A figure well-versed in market economics, Ravi Shastri, voiced an opinion, especially preceding the World Cup, advocating for trimming of powerplay overs, proposing a 40-40 cricket format for ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar echoed similar sentiments back in 2019, suggesting the division of ODIs into four innings of 25 overs each. Numerous others have expressed their views, yet uncertainty looms regarding whether these alterations could truly resolve the challenges currently faced by ODIs.
