Why will India World Cup 2023 have no opening ceremony?

The grandest stage of international cricket has finally arrived on Indian soil, with the entire country rallying behind the Men in Blue. Surprisingly, there is no lavish and star-studded opening ceremony to mark the occasion.

What

The 2023 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup kicks off today with the opening match between defending champions England and last year's runners-up, New Zealand.

The stage is set for an exciting tournament, but the absence of a big and flashy opening ceremony has raised eyebrows, with the BCCI citing logistical issues as one of the reasons.

This fact is somewhat hard to digest, considering that the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is considered one of the most advanced cricket stadiums in the country.

Why no opening ceremony?

Cricket fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating the 2023 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place in India.

However, this edition of the prestigious event is expected to commence without the highly anticipated opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony of a Cricket World Cup is one of the most eagerly awaited events for fans. Earlier, there were reports of numerous Bollywood and Tollywood celebrities set to dazzle the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as part of the opening ceremony. The list included:

• Ranveer Singh,
• Arijit Singh, 
• Tamannaah Bhatia,
• Varun Dhawan, 
• Shankar Mahadevan, 
• and Shreya Ghoshal

However, the BCCI cited certain factors that prevented them from proceeding with the ceremony, including logistical challenges and the desire to keep the focus on cricket itself.

The stage is ready for CWC 2023

High-value matches

• The tournament begins today with England facing New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a rematch of the last edition's final.

• New Zealand aims to put past disappointments behind them and overcome the defending champions, while England seeks a strong start.

• Hosts India will make their first appearance in the tournament when they face the five-time World Cup winners Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

• The most highly anticipated match of the World Cup is undoubtedly India vs. Pakistan, scheduled for October 14, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Tensions will run high as both countries aim to prove themselves on cricket's grandest stage.

• Pakistan will kick off their campaign against the Netherlands on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

The venues and matches

The ICC World Cup 2023 will host matches in multiple cities including:

• Ahmadabad
• Chennai
• Delhi, 
• Kolkata, 

• Mumbai, 
• Lucknow,
• Dharamshala, 
• Pune.

Mumbai and Kolkata will each host one semi-final, with the final set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023.

The 2023 Cricket World Cup will be contested by 10 teams:

• India, 
• England,
• Pakistan, 
• Australia, 
• South Africa, 
• New Zealand, 
• Bangladesh, 
• Sri Lanka, 
• Afghanistan 
• Netherlands

The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals in a round-robin format.

The favourites to win

Even before the tournament's first match, fans and experts of the game have begun naming their favorites to win the World Cup 2023.

India

Apart from enjoying the advantage of being the host, India is currently in excellent form, following their recent Asia Cup victory. Key Indian batters like Shubhman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan are in fine form, which could prove pivotal during the tournament.

Bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav have also delivered outstanding performances recently, adding confidence to the Indian team.

Australia

It's nearly impossible to discount the five-time tournament winners, especially with the current squad Australia possesses.

However, India recently defeated Australia in a 3-match ODI series, exposing some weaknesses in the Aussie team.

England

The defending champions may not be in the best form, but the confidence boost of holding the title could prove crucial.

Pakistan

The Pakistani team is brimming with young talent and flair, making them strong contenders for a successful performance in the World Cup 2023.