ICC World Cup 2023: Ahmedabad gets biggest matches – Venues Ranked according to Fixtures

It promises to be an extraordinary spectacle across six weeks or so when the extravaganza starts on October 5. Ten teams are participating in the World Cup this year, with eight teams already confirmed and the final two berths set to be determined through the qualifiers.

Ten venues have been handpicked for hosting the World Cup matches. Out of them, nine venues will host five matches each, whereas a solitary venue has been granted just three matches.

In this article, we have put all the venues under the scanner and has ranked the importance of the venue according to the fixtures that they have received. This is by no means to disrespect any venue or any team, but to be pragmatic and bland at the same time, ICC has chosen the venues accordingly so that they can exert the maximum revenue out of each match.

So, without further adieu, let’s have a rank of the ten venues of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023-

10. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Match Numbers: 3

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Hyderabad

Pakistan vs Q1 – October 6

New Zealand vs Q1 – October 9

Pakistan vs Q2 – October 12

Hyderabad is the only venue which haven’t got any India matches. It has also received a total of three matches, two less than all of its fellow cities. Hence the number 10 rank is utterly justified.

9. MCA Stadium, Pune

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Pune

India vs Bangladesh – October 19

Afghanistan vs Q2 – October 30

New Zealand vs South Africa – November 1

England vs Q1 – November 8

Australia vs Bangladesh – November 12

Pune has got five matches, but apart from the India and Bangladesh clash, none of the matches are that interesting on paper. Yes, New Zealand and South Africa can be a decent spectacle. But other venues have eclipsed them with their allotted fixtures.

8. Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Delhi

South Africa vs Q2 – October 7

India vs Afghanistan – October 11

England vs Afghanistan – October 14

Australia vs Q1 – October 25

Bangladesh vs Q2 – November 6

The capital city of India could only manage the Afghanistan tie in terms of India matches. South Africa and Australia will all play here but each of them will clash against either of the two qualifying teams. Afghanistan gets two matches here, they face England as well along with India.

7. BRSAVB Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in BRSABV Ekana Stadium

Australia vs South Africa – October 13

Australia vs Q2 – October 16

Q1 vs Q2 – October 21

India vs England – October 29

Q1 vs Afghanistan – November 3

The clash between India and England will be the flagship tie at this venue. Expect some decent numbers in the two Australia matches as well. Also the two qualifying teams will lock horns against each other in this venue.

6. M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Bengaluru

Australia vs Pakistan – October 20

England vs Q2 – October 26

New Zealand vs Pakistan – November 4

New Zealand vs Q2 – November 9

India vs Q1 – November 11

Bengaluru have got two decent Pakistan matches, but the lack of a big India match has pegged them back to 6th place in the venue rankings. But expect a big turnout in the Pakistan matches. India will also finish their group stage campaign here, hence it will be a big occasion as well.

5. HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Dharamshala

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – October 7

England vs Bangladesh – October 10

South Africa vs Q1 – October 17

India vs New Zealand – October 22

Australia vs New Zealand – October 28

The mountainous abode of Dharamshala has received some terrific matches. India and New Zealand clash at the picturesque stadium will be pivotal as the men in blue have failed to beat the Kiwis in an ICC tournament in the last two decades. The Oceanian rivals also clash against each other at this venue, whereas Bangladesh and Afghanistan will commence the five matches at the HPCA Stadium.

4. Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Mumbai

England vs South Africa – October 21

South Africa vs Bangladesh – October 24

India vs Q2 – November 2

Australia vs Afghanistan – November 7

Semi Final 1 – November 15

Mumbai will be hosting one of the semifinals in this World Cup. But the group stages matches they have received is not that exciting apart from the India one, which also will be between one of the two qualifying teams. England and South Africa’s clash will be a pivotal one though.

3. MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Chennai

India vs Australia – October 8

New Zealand vs Bangladesh – October 14

New Zealand vs Afghanistan – October 18

Pakistan vs Afghanistan – October 23

Pakistan vs South Africa – October 27

A blockbuster clash between India and Australia will kickstart the MA Chidambaram Stadium’s journey in this World Cup. Chennai have got two mouthwatering Pakistan matches as well, especially the tie with Afghanistan is surely going to be a feisty one.

The volume of group stage matches they have got just keeps them ahead of Wankhede despite the Mumbai stadium getting a chance to host one of the semifinals.

2. Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Kolkata

Q1 vs Bangladesh – October 28

Pakistan vs Bangladesh – October 31

India vs South Africa – November 5

England vs Pakistan – November 12

Semi Final 2 – November 16

The Eden Gardens of Kolkata will also host one of the semifinals. A South Africa against India clash is a mouth-watering one, and the same goes for the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Babar Azam and co. will also face the World Champions at this venue, which clearly makes the City of Joy arena the 2nd best-ranked venue of all.

1. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Match Numbers: 5

ICC World Cup 2023 Matches in Ahmedabad

England vs New Zealand – October 5

India vs Pakistan – October 15

England vs Australia – November 4

South Africa vs Afghanistan – November 10

Final – November 19

The World Cup will start in Ahmedabad, and the Final will also be taking place at the iconic stadium. And in between, the biggest match of the tournament will also be played here as India and Pakistan lock horns. And make no mistake, England and Australia will are also supposed to play here!

Hence it makes the Narendra Modi stadium by far the winner among all the venues.