Legendary West Indies batsman Viv Richards has expressed his support for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Richards, speaking to ICC, shared his deep affiliation with India and his belief in the team’s potential to perform well in the tournament, especially with the advantage of home support. The 2023 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to commence on October 5, with the opening match between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
Viv Richards stated, “I fancy India, I have got a deep affiliation with India, that particular country in itself. I made my debut in India and I have a lot of sentimental reasons about that part of the world.” He emphasized the significance of the massive support that Indian cricket enjoys, considering it a motivating factor for the team’s success.
India will host the 2023 World Cup in October and November, and Richards believes that the home advantage, coupled with the passionate fan base, can play a pivotal role in India’s campaign.
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The 10-team Cricket World Cup is scheduled to begin on October 5, with eight teams earning direct qualification, while Sri Lanka and the Netherlands secured the final two spots through the qualifier round held in Zimbabwe last month.
The participating teams in the tournament include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the Netherlands. The group stage will follow a round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stages.
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The semi-finals are set to be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16, with the final slated for November 19 in Ahmedabad. Viv Richards’ faith in India’s prospects adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
India’s 15-member World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
