By Zainab Shafiq 
The highly anticipated ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 is set to kick off in India on October 5, marking the beginning of a thrilling cricketing extravaganza that will run across 10 venues until November 19. The tournament will feature 10 teams vying for the prestigious title, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting both; the World Cup 2023 opener, where defending champions England will take on last edition’s runners-up New Zealand, and the grand final.
What sets World Cup 2023 opener apart from others?
Interestingly, this World Cup will witness an unusual occurrence. For only the third time in the tournament’s history, the host country will not be part of the opening match. The previous instances were in 1979, when England, the host, did not feature in the first game, and in 1996, when India co-hosted the World Cup with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with England and New Zealand facing off in the opener.
What makes the 2023 World Cup even more unique is that it is the first time the entire tournament will be held within a single country, with India taking on the monumental task of hosting matches in 10 different venues. However, the Indian team will face the most extensive traveling schedule as they are slated to play in nine of these venues.
This historical context hearkens back to the inaugural 1975 World Cup in England, where the home team played the tournament’s opener against India. Subsequent editions followed suit, with the host country featuring in the opening match, until the upcoming 2023 tournament that departs from this tradition.
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