Early Odds and Betting Preview for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup

Hurry! You only have just over two years to place your bets for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup!

Okay, there may not be a real sense of urgency. But with many of the top bookmakers already providing betting markets for this prestigious tournament, there is no harm in taking a look at what is on offer.

The latest odds are available and I will be seeing if there is any value to be found by placing an early wager. I’ll also be going through the favorites to lift the trophy – and which teams might fancy their chances of going to India and upsetting the hosts.

Read on to discover all you need to know about the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

For those of you who are new to the sport of cricket, the World Cup is an international tournament for the one day international – or ODI – format.

The competition is held every four years and is regarded as the biggest prize in the sport on a national level.

This will be the 13^th edition, with England as the current holders after beating New Zealand in a dramatic final at Lord’s in 2019. India is the sole host of the 2023 World Cup – only the second time since 1983 that the ICC has used just one country as the base for the tournament.

It is no surprise that the top cricket betting sites make India the favorite to win the 2023 World Cup.

It is a major player in the sport and would be well fancied even if it weren’t the host. But with the raucous home support behind it, India could well add to the two World Cup titles it has previously won.

England, as holders, seems well fancied too. It rode its luck a little to take the title two years ago but the short formats of the game have been transformed in England over the last few years.

Australia should never be discounted when it comes to the one-day game but New Zealand has been improving remarkably, so the odds of 8.50 look very tempting this far off the actual competition.

With the World Cup still a while off, it is obvious that picking out players to look out for could be problematic. But India has to be the favorite to win the tournament – whoever turns out in the famous blue shirts.

Virat Kohli has only just announced that he will be stepping down as captain of the T20 side. But he still plans to play that format – and his decision should also allow him to concentrate more on test matches and ODIs.

He would surely love to lead his country to a third World Cup title, especially one on home soil.

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— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 16, 2021

India adores all formats of cricket but ODIs hold a special place since the surprise World Cup triumph in 1983 when it beat the all-conquering West Indies in the final at Lords.

The venues haven’t been finalized yet, but the Indian players will be ecstatically greeted wherever they play and that has to be a huge factor in how far they can go.

At this stage I think it is fair to say that it would be a shock if India doesn’t make it to the final at least.

Although Pakistan, the West Indies and Sri Lanka have all lifted the World Cup trophy in the past, I can’t see anyone outside the top four in the bookies’ odds list winning in 2023.

England should still be full of confidence after finally winning the World Cup in 2019.

The home of cricket had lost three finals back in the 1970s, 80s and 90s before sensationally beating New Zealand in a super over on home soil.

Ben Stokes was the star that day – but he has been dealing with mental health issues recently. Hopefully he will be back playing by the time this World Cup comes around to give his country another chance at glory.

Australia virtually owned one day cricket from around the turn of the century until about three or four years ago. But it hasn’t been quite as powerful since then and was beaten in the semifinals by England in 2019. A further worry is that David Warner and Aaron Finch are both already 34.

The Aussies will be hoping that they can both still perform at the highest level in two years time – and team up with Steve Smith to bat the side to victory.

New Zealand is the other likely main challenger to India winning the 2023 World Cup. The Black Caps have come away empty handed from the last two finals and will not want to make it three in a row.

The good news for the Kiwis is that Kane Williamson and Lockie Ferguson should still be playing but this is a team that has struggled with spin bowling recently – and that could be a problem on the dry pitches of India.

India has already qualified for the tournament as host, but the other nine participants are still to be decided.

Seven sides will qualify from the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. All ODIs between the 12 full members of the ICC and the Netherlands – who qualified from another lower level tournament to be involved – are counted.

New Zealand is currently down in 10^th position in the Super League. But that is because it has only played three games, compared to Ireland who has already completed 15 ties.

Bangladesh has already recorded some fine victories though, so there could yet be some surprises. The remaining two World Cup entrants will come from a further qualifier.

The Cricket World Cup is always a flurry of excitement and drama – and a tournament held in India is guaranteed to be must-see.

Hopefully, some of the smaller nations – and past masters such as the West Indies – will improve in the next two years and make this one of the most competitive World Cups yet.

The way England overcame New Zealand in 2019 will never be forgotten but I can imagine there will be more memorable moments in two years time too.

There is a lot of time between now and the 2023 World Cup. Prepare to bet on it with the Cricket World Cup betting guide below.