Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma expressed his belief that the upcoming ICC World Cup would be a fiercely competitive tournament, with teams adopting a more aggressive and attacking approach in the game, making it faster and more thrilling than ever before.
India, aiming for their third World Cup title and the second on home soil, will commence their campaign against Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on October 8 in Chennai.
The Indian team will play all nine of their league matches at various venues, including the newly constructed Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Speaking about the tournament, Rohit Sharma shared his excitement about playing the World Cup on home ground. He noted that India had triumphed in the tournament 12 years ago, and he acknowledged the nationwide anticipation for their upcoming matches. The captain emphasized the increased competitiveness of the game due to its faster pace and teams adopting more positive approaches.
Rohit Sharma was quoted in an ICC release, saying, "This World Cup is going to be very competitive as the game has become faster and teams are playing more positively than ever before."
He expressed his team's commitment to meeting the expectations of the home crowd and delivering thrilling moments for cricket fans worldwide. The Indian captain conveyed his team's determination to prepare well and perform at their best during the tournament scheduled for October and November.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will kick off on October 5 with a match between England and New Zealand, the finalists from the previous edition, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The highly anticipated clash between India and arch-rival Pakistan will also take place at the same venue on October 15.
India and Pakistan have faced each other seven times in World Cup history, with India emerging victorious on all occasions, including encounters in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, and 2019. However, the teams did not meet in the 2007 edition, which proved to be a disappointing campaign for both sides as they crashed out in the opening round.
In their most recent encounter during the 2019 World Cup at Old Trafford, India posted an imposing total of 336/5, driven by Rohit Sharma's exceptional knock of 140 runs off 113 balls.
As the stage is set for the highly anticipated ICC World Cup, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the thrilling matches and captivating performances from teams competing in this fast-paced and attacking tournament.