The 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup made history as the cricket tournament with the highest attendance ever. Over 1.25 million fans filled the stadiums to watch the matches. This broke the previous record set in the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand, which had 1.01 million spectators.
It was filled to the rafters for all nine Team India matches. After complaints of empty stands at the opening of the showcase event, the enthusiasm for the non-India events slowed.
The grand finale between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad drew over 100,000 people.
The actual count of 1,250,307 spectators for the 2023 World Cup across India’s eleven stadiums also includes the most attended India-Pakistan match on October 14 in Ahmedabad. In comparison, the last edition of the ODI World Cup in England (2019) drew 752,000 spectators.
Chris Tetley, the ICC’s Head of Events, commented on the success of the 2023 ODI World Cup:
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has been a great success, showcasing the best aspects of the game and capturing the hearts of hundreds of millions of fans across the world. The staggering attendance demonstrates the enduring appeal of cricket and the excitement the ODI format continues to offer. It has been an event that has not only entertained but also united cricket fans globally in a celebration of the sport.”
Chris Tetley
In addition, the 2023 World Cup smashed various broadcast and digital viewing records. During the league stage match between India and New Zealand, the official broadcaster’s live streaming platform, Star Sports, reached a peak of 4.3 crore views. This was apparently surpassed during the two semi-finals and the final between India and Australia.
Australia Win World Cup for Sixth Time After Defeating India
Australia won their sixth ODI World Cup victory on November 19 by putting an end to Team India’s fairytale run.
After winning the toss, Australia bowled and fielded brilliantly to restrict the star-studded Indian batting lineup to a below-par 240. In response, they returned from a dangerous 47/3 to win by six wickets with seven overs to spare.
Travis Head top-scored with 137 off 120 deliveries, while Marnus Labuschagne added an unbeaten 58 from 110 balls.
Australia secured their fifth victory in the last seven ODI World Cups, dating back to the 1999 edition. This triumph marked an impressive record for the Australian team.
The side, led by a great Pat Cummins, also won the World Test Championship (WTC) and the 50-over World Cup this year.
The defeat added to India’s ongoing struggle of overcoming the final challenge in ICC events. They had a great winning streak of 10 games but it was ended by Australia in the World Cup final. The Indian team hasn’t won an ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
The next edition of the ODI World Cup will be played in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in 2027.