The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 warm-up matches have begun and the teams are looking for their last preparation before the mega event. Team India’s first warm-up game against England on September 30 in Guwahati was washed out due to rain. Only the toss was possible before rain played the spoilsport. Now, Team India will be without their star batter, Virat Kohli in their 2nd warm-up game against the Netherlands. He went to Mumbai to meet his wife, Anushka Sharma due to personal reasons.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma to become parents again?
There are some reports in the media that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are expecting their 2nd child. It was after the birth of their first child. When Virat Kohli and his wife were expecting their first child, Virat missed the last three away test matches against Australia.
Now, again it might be the reason that Virat Kohli didn’t travel with the team to play the 2nd warm-up game.
Virat didn’t travel with the team
After Team India’s first warm-up game against England washed out, Virat Kohli traveled straight from Guwahati to Mumbai to meet his wife. He didn’t travel with the team to Thiruvananthapuram to play the 2nd warm-up game against the Netherlands. The game will happen on October 03, starting at 2:00 PM IST.
A BCCI source confirmed the news
A close source from BCCI confirmed this news of Virat Kohli. It also said Virat will join the team very soon.
Team India reached Thiruvananthapuram
The team has reached the city to play the 2nd warm-up game after a four-hour long flight. Team will have an optional training session before the game. The only thing they have to look at is the weather. Already the weather has spoiled three warm-up games in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Team India will practice at the KCA – St Xavier’s College Cricket Ground if the weather stays well.
Rain has interrupted a few games already
The rain has already washed out a few games in the ICC ODI WC 2023. India vs England, South Africa vs Afghanistan, and Australia vs Netherlands didn’t end with a result due to rain. Other games have also been affected due to the same reason.
As we are writing this article, South Africa and New Zealand playing a warm-up game. And the rain has interrupted SA’s run chase. The Proteas are 7 runs behind according to DLS in a run chase.
Team India is in good form
Team India is looking good at the moment. They always start as favorites in every ICC tournament nowadays. This time around as well, they are looking very solid with the proper balance in the team. All the batters are in good knick, including Virat Kohli, who will join the team soon.
The team has just won the Asia Cup 2023,m which will give them huge confidence going into this WC.
Will Team India lift the WC again at home?
India won an ODI WC last time when it happened in India in 2011. It was under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Team India will look to replicate the heroics of 2011 in 2023. They have all the batters in touch and the bowlers’ attack also looked formidable. Let’s see how they go about their business in the WC.
Also, only two players from 2011 are there in the 2023 squad. Those two players are Virat Kohli and R Ashwin.
India’s squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023:-
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, M Shami, M Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
Conclusion
So this is the news coming in from the Indian camp. Virat Kohli will join the team very soon. The WC will start with the last-time finalists, England and New Zealand locking horns against each other on October 05 at Ahmedabad.
Team India will play their first game against Australia on October 08 at Chennai. The team will face the arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14 at Ahmedabad. The final of the tournament will happen at the same venue on November 19.
What are your predictions? Will Team India win their 3rd ICC ODI WC this time? Comment your predictions below in the comment section.
