ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Sam Curran terms hosts India the favorites to win the title

India will be hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 solely for the first time.

England all-rounder Sam Curran shared his thoughts on which team will win the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and named the hosts India as favorites to lift the trophy. India will be hosting the World Cup for the first time as a solo host.

Previously, India has been joint co-hosts in 1987, 1996, and 2011. This will be the first time the World Cup will be played across 10 venues in India featuring 10 teams playing 48 matches. The tournament will start on October 5 and the final will be played on November 19.

England will play New Zealand in the World Cup opener in Ahmedabad and one of the players to feature in that game might be Sam Curran. His position in the starting XI is currently in risk given the availability of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.

Sam Curran has recently been outstanding for the Three Lions. The 25-year-old bowled well and even picked up a wicket in the warm-up game against Bangladesh, which should give him confidence to contribute if he is called up.

Curran feels that the 2023 ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to start on October 5, would have India as the favorites. He said that the Rohit Sharma-led team is the best choice to do the task because they are fully aware of the circumstances.

“I feel like India being the home side, and with it being their conditions, they're probably the favorites,” Curran told GQ Magazine.

“Cricket's a religion (in India) so you've got to go with an open mind”- Sam Curran

Gus Atkinson has been called up by England for the prestigious competition after Jofra Archer was forced to withdraw due to injury. Curran said of him that the expert pacer is inquiring a lot in order to comprehend the circumstances, culture, and people of India.

Cricket is treated like a religion in India, according to Curran, and he likes that about the continent.

“Cricket's a religion (in India) so you've got to go with an open mind, take it all in and expect an amazing experience. For one of my good mates, Gus Atkinson, it's his first time going to India, so he's been asking questions about the conditions, the culture, the people, the fans. People just love the game and when you leave the hotel, you get mobbed by loads of fans, which is amazing. It just shows how much people love and worship cricket in India,” Curran added.