During the ICC World Cup 2023 schedule announcement event in Mumbai, exactly 100 days before the tournament opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, Virat Kohli shares his excitement about the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Unlike the previous editions where India co-hosted with other sub-continent nations, this will be India’s first time hosting the 50-over World Cup on its own.
As the captain of the Indian team in the last edition, held in England, Kohli aims to lead the charge once again in India’s quest for an ICC trophy after the heartbreak of a semi-final exit against New Zealand. The Indian team last secured an ICC title in 2013, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, when they triumphed in the Champions Trophy.
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Recalling his experience as a World Cup winner in 2011, Kohli reveals his personal excitement for playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the upcoming tournament. The sentimental value attached to the venue holds a special place in his heart. Kohli states, “Personally, I’m looking forward to playing in Mumbai. It’d be great to experience that atmosphere again.”
Virender Sehwag said, “everyone needs to win this World Cup for Virat Kohli. The kind of great player he is, a great human being also, he always helps other players”. pic.twitter.com/tgxMpZFxK7
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 27, 2023
The Wankhede Stadium witnessed India’s historic triumph in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. Batting at No. 4, Kohli played a vital role, scoring 35 runs and forming a crucial partnership of 83 with Gautam Gambhir. This partnership helped India recover after the early dismissals of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, ultimately leading to their successful chase of 275 runs.
Reflecting on the memories of the 2011 triumph, Kohli acknowledges the significance of playing a home World Cup and the excitement it brings. He says, “I was quite young then. I saw what it meant to the seniors. I can understand what they went through and how special it is to play a home World Cup and how excited they are going to be.”
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In the 2023 edition of the World Cup, Kohli will have the opportunity to relive the Wankhede atmosphere when India faces Qualifier 2 at the iconic stadium on November 2. Additionally, the Wankhede Stadium will host a semi-final match on November 15. India’s group stage matches will take place across nine different venues, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Their campaign kicks off against Australia on October 9 in Chennai.
