The cricket world is abuzz with anticipation as the 33rd match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place on November 2 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This venue holds special significance for Indian cricket fans, as it was the same ground where MS Dhoni’s legendary six led India to World Cup glory against Sri Lanka 12 years ago.
Now, history repeats itself as both teams prepare to face each other once more. Notably, it marks the first encounter between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium since the 2011 ODI World Cup final, where India emerged as the champion.
India’s impressive journey in the World Cup 2023 continues under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. The Indian team remains undefeated, with six wins in as many matches, triumphing over Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England.
As they return to Mumbai, India aims to extend their winning streak against Sri Lanka. On the other side, Sri Lanka is keen on bouncing back after a recent loss to Afghanistan, striving to regain their momentum in the tournament.
To understand the conditions and how the pitch will influence this pivotal match, Dafa News Cricket Show interviewed Zimbabwe national player and coach Tasmin Granger. Granger stated, “The pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium favors batsmen, offering good bounce and allowing the ball to come on to the bat effectively. Bowlers often face challenges on this ground due to its small size, leading to a flurry of fours and sixes. Spinners find assistance on this red clay pitch, and fast bowlers benefit from the bounce and early swing.”
Granger went on to share insights regarding the pitch’s history, revealing that out of the 31 ODI matches played at this venue, 16 were won by the team batting first, while 15 were won by the team chasing. As such, the toss-winning captain may opt to bat first. The average score for the first innings in ODIs at Wankhede is 243, while the second innings sees an average of 201. With both teams boasting potent batting line-ups, a high-scoring contest is expected between India and Sri Lanka. Analyzing the statistics, India maintains the highest average run rate in all three phases of the game: 6.02 runs per over in the first 10 overs, 5.66 runs per over in the middle 40 overs, and 6.19 runs per over in the last 10 overs. Sri Lanka closely follows in second place across all three phases, with averages of 5.92 runs per over, 5.94 runs per over, and 5.59 runs per over in the respective phases. Interestingly, while India excels in the initial powerplay, Sri Lanka demonstrates a knack for building innings steadily in the middle and final phases.
Overall, the data highlights India and Sri Lanka as the standout batting teams of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, each boasting high average run rates across all three phases of the game. The upcoming clash at Wankhede Stadium promises to be a thrilling encounter as these two cricketing giants renew their rivalry on the grand stage.
