Credit: Alyssa Ao

WSPN’s Reva Datar discusses the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and picks her winner for the tournament.

The cricketing world has come alive for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which is taking place in India. Fans all over the world have been engaging in spirited debates about which team will take the trophy. So far in the tournament, we’ve seen amazing comebacks, sensational batting, genius bowling and strategy across the board. So, who will win it all?

There are 10 teams playing in the World Cup and each team will play each other in preliminary matches. The four teams with the best records will advance to the semifinals. If two teams are tied for fourth place, then the team with the higher net run rate – the average number of runs they score in an over, which is six balls, minus the average of their opponents’ – will advance to the semifinals.

My top four teams this year are India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. All four are absolute cricket powerhouses, and India and Australia have already won the World Cup before. Though New Zealand hasn’t won a World Cup, the team has consistently made it to the finals in 2019 and 2015. South Africa’s batting in this tournament has put the team on the radar for the semifinals. Now, let’s break down the strengths of each team.

India

India has consistently been a top contender in international cricket, boasting a formidable batting lineup and a versatile bowling attack. The team currently lead the tournament with three wins and no losses, and were the favorites to win the tournament before it even started. Batters like Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batsmen ever, as well as Rohit Sharma, and other players have shown that once again, India can bat. Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are instrumental in the team’s success, and have been collecting sensational wickets quickly. And, if you know India, you know the team don’t lose when it has the home field advantage.

Australia

Australia has won the World Cup a whopping five times, making it the most statistically consistent team. Recent series victories against strong opponents haven’t gone the team’s way, however they play well at the international level. With star batsmen like David Warner and Steve Smith, combined with bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Australia is an extremely well-balanced team. Australia’s experience in knockout matches shows how the team performs well in high-pressure situations. However, the team’s performance during this tournament has done little to help it secure a top-four spot so far.

New Zealand

The New Zealand team is as tight knit as team can get, and extremely disciplined. Out of all the teams, New Zealand has the best fielding in the tournament, but its strength lies in their bowling and all-rounders. Players like Trent Boult, Tom Lantham and Mitchell Santner have stood out for its bowling. The team’s captain, Kane Williamson, is one of the greatest batsmen in cricket, but is out with an injury. Still, his leadership is a great source of strength for the team. Currently, the team is second in the tournament, right behind India.

South Africa

All the teams mentioned so far have great batsmen, but South Africa has dominated this tournament’s batting. In its opening match, batsmen Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen each scored over 100 runs, making South Africa the first team in Cricket World Cup history to have three players score centuries in an inning. That match, it scored an incredible 428 runs for just five wickets.

Teams to watch

England should have been in the top four since it is the defending world champions. However, this tournament the England team has only won one of its matches. Still, its aggressive brand of cricket, led by explosive batters like Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, as well as all-rounder Ben Stokes gives the team a significant edge. It’s still possible for England to make a comeback.

Afghanistan is also a team to watch. Though Afghanistan is a newer team, it pulled the biggest upset of the tournament, smashing England out of the park. It scored an impressive 284 runs against England, and then bowled England all-out at 215 runs in 40 overs. I doubt teams will not be underestimating Afghanistan for the rest of the tournament.

Lastly, Pakistan is the unpredictable dark horse that can tear down the top team. Skillful talents like Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam adds depth to the squad. Currently, Pakistan is fourth in the tournament, and if the team keeps up its attack, it can qualify for the semifinals and give the other teams a hard time.

In this Cricket World Cup, I think India will be hoisting the trophy. India can play in the hot and humid conditions best, and have several batters and bowlers in top form. However, the game of cricket is unpredictable, and even the best team can crack under pressure.

Ultimately, it will be the team that combines skill, strategy and mental fortitude that will emerge as the deserving champion. Let’s eagerly await for the final on Nov. 19 and see which team etches its name into cricketing history.