ICC World Cup 2023 Predictions: Odds, Favourite, Who will win?

Cricket World Cup predictions has Team India to win the World Cup at their home soil, offering odds of 3.20 for the men in blue.

As the host nation, India will have the advantage of home conditions, as well as a very strong side that has been performing very well in the ODI format for quite a while. Couple that with the fact that the last 3 editions have been won by the host teams, and you can see the bookmakers’ reasoning. 

For those not in the loop of the schedule yet, the Cricket World Cup 2023 will start on 5th October in Ahmedabad with defending champions England taking on New Zealand. Ahmedabad will also host the final, on 19th November. 

Who are the other contenders?

Quite a few nations will go to the tournament feeling like they have a shot at winning the trophy. Historically, the World Cup has always had multiple contenders and this edition is no different. England, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have all been contenders in the past and they will look to challenge again.

However the expert and the bookmakers all agree on two pools of favourties with India, England and Australia as the top dogs. Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa are in the second tier of favoured teams. Former champions Sri Lanka and rising ODI team Bangladesh are considered as the dark horses. 

Cricket World Cup predictions: Betting tips and odds
Photo by Icon Sport

The hot favourites

Defending Champions England are among the favourties and they have perhaps the most balanced and powerful squad in the tournament. They have changed the ODI game forever and their swashbuckling style is enjoyed by everyone. 

With their explosive batting line-up that can blow any opposition, they will fancy their chances in batting friendly Indian pitches. The bookmakers agree, placing them 2nd behind India in their favourites lists of cricket World Cup predictions with 4.00 odds to win. The only thing going against them might be the lack of strength in their spin department. 

When it comes to cricket World Cup odds, Australia are always among the favourites. They are the record 5 times champion of the tournament and always get to the latter stages. The Aussie way isn’t about any particular style, it's about winning.

Australia have a wonderful blend of experience and youth, a number of high quality pace-bowling all-rounders, and a powerful pace bowling unit that can do damage on any surface. The odds reflect that, putting them third in the favoured list with odds of 5.00. Their batting against spin can be their main undoing however.

The chasing pack

Even though they are not considered among the hot favourites in terms of cricket World Cup odds, Pakistan are always in with a chance, that is why they are the unpredictable side of world cricket, the ones you can never discount, no matter what. 

As always Pakistan’s strength will be their pace bowling, as they boast a plethora of quick and hostile fast bowlers. Their batting is quite strong this time, which is not a historic trend. Thus the bookmakers have them at 4th place of favourties, with odds of 8.00 to win the world cup, slightly behind the pool of the big three and at the head of the chasing pack.

Last year’s runner-up New Zealand will be looking to go one step further and they certainly have the quality to do so. The kiwis have exceptional balance and some exciting newcomers to enhance their prospects. 

Some veteran campaigners with experience of playing in these conditions, a few good spinners and some brilliant players of spin; those will be New Zealand’s main strengths. They are just behind mercurial Pakistan with 8.50 odds to win the trophy this time. However a pace attack not suited for slowing surfaces could be their main obstacle. 

South Africa may have never won the tournament but they have gone close several times and fallen short, thus their infamous nickname, “Chokers”. They will be hoping this is their year with a rejuvenated squad. 

South Africa are looking at a squad with a lot of potential, and they have a group well versed in playing franchise cricket who will be key to their challenge. However some of their player’s inexperience in these conditions could prove to be the main obstacle, thus their middling 11.00 odds.

Cricket World Cup History

Cricket World Cup was first played in 1975, a revolutionary event that has shaped the fate of the game from there on. West Indies won the first two editions with their mighty sides in the 1970s. Team India pulled one of the greatest upsets of all time by winning it 1983, as they did it again in 2011 and hoping for a repeat in 2023.

The Australian domination began in 1987, and they are the most successful side with 5 trophies. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have each won once and England finally won their first one in 2019 after participating in all the editions from the beginning. 

Cricket World Cup predictions 2023 and betting odds:

The hot favourites to win the Cricket World Cup predictions in 2023 are:

The Cricket World Cup predictions for contenders are:

The dark horses’ Cricket World Cup 2023 odds:

Afghanistan and Netherlands are the outsiders with Odds of 100 and 750 respectively, but Afghanistan has the potential to pull some massive upsets. 

Jish B

Jish B

Born to a cricket-crazy father and a writer mother, Jish combined his parents' passions to fuel his own dreams of being a sports journalist. If it's got a scoring system and needs to be written about, chances are this guy has written about it.