Who will win the ICC World Cup 2023?

The ICC World Cup 2023 is set to begin from Thursday with all 10 teams having confirmed their 15-member squads for the mega event. New Zealand and England will be in action in the opening match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

The question everyone must be wondering is who will win the World Cup this year? There are many contenders for the prestigious title, but we think the following three teams are the most likely candidates.

India 

India are widely regarded as the top favourites for the ICC 2023 World Cup. A brilliant mix of seasoned players and youngsters plus the big advantage of playing at home make the Men in Blue the strongest team this year. 

They have an enviable batting line-up that features Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill, players who can absolutely destroy the opposition with their aggressive batting. 

While in the bowling department, India have the deadly Jasprit Bumrah, who returned to the team after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, as well as Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Add in the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, and the World Cup hosts have the best balance in their squad. 

Australia 

Australia completely dominated white-ball cricket between 1999 and 2007, winning three successive World Cups during that period. Although they are not that cricketing force anymore, the Aussies still boast plenty of quality in their ranks and are capable of winning the mega event in India. 

In David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, they have two solid opening batsmen who are aggressive and can put the opposition’s bowlers under pressure early on. Steve Smith is highly experienced, while Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey also represent decent options for the five-time world champions. 

The Aussies have a lethal pace attack, consisting mainly of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. But the lack of spin bowling options is a concern, with Adam Zampa the only spinner for them in Indian conditions. 

England 

England won the 2019 World Cup after beating New Zealand in a dramatic fashion in the final at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Can they defend their crown in India? Captain Jos Buttler and his team will certainly believe so. 

Ben Stokes, who played a crucial innings in the final against New Zealand, reversed his decision to retire from ODIs, and his recent form suggests he is still a top batter in the white-ball format. Their biggest strength is the firepower they have in the team, including the likes of Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan. Joe Root, Stokes and Moeen Ali also represent great batting options for the 2019 world champions. 

But their bowling department doesn’t look very strong as they lack specialist bowlers. The Three Lions will bank on their top all-rounders to deliver them good results in India. 

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