The 2023 Cricket World Cup starts in October and tournament hosts India are much-fancied to be crowned world champions for the third time.

They should face tough competition from holders England and five-time winners Australia, while New Zealand - runners-up at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups - are desperate to go one better this year.

What	2023 Cricket World Cup
Where	Ten venues across India
When	Thursday 5th October - Sunday 19th November, 2023
How to watch	Sky Sports Cricket
Odds	India 11/5, England 3/1, Australia 9/2, Pakistan 13/2, New Zealand 15/2

India

Current Outright odds - 11/5

India won the World Cup as co-hosts in 2011 and are aiming to make the most of home advantage again in 2023.

ODI greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are backed up by a host of talented batters, while all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel provide great balance to the team, although the latter is an injury doubt.

The hosts will be hoping that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is fully fit after back surgery, but first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will miss the tournament as he recovers from a serious car crash.

India look worthy trophy favourites as they boast great squad depth in every department and have won 18 of their 24 home ODIs since the 2019 World Cup.

England

Current Outright odds - 3/1

England won their first World Cup in dramatic fashion in 2019, beating New Zealand after a Super Over at Lord's, and they followed up with victory at last year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

Ben Stokes, who played a key role in both of those triumphs, has come out of ODI cricket retirement to help Jos Buttler, who succeeded World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, and add more power to an already impressive batting line-up.

Plenty of England's white-ball players have gained valuable experience of Indian conditions in the IPL and they are unlikely to relinquish their crown without a fight.

Australia

Current Outright odds - 9/2

Australia are the most successful team in World Cup history, winning the trophy five times, although their 2019 campaign ended with a thumping eight-wicket defeat to England in the semi-finals.

The Aussies put down a World Cup marker in March with a 2-1 ODI series victory in India, bowling out the hosts for just 117 on their way to a 10-wicket romp in the second game.

All-rounders Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green are potential matchwinners with impressive IPL records and leg-spinner Adam Zampa should be another major threat in India, but Travis Head is doubtful due to a hand injury.

Pakistan

Current Outright odds - 13/2

Pakistan made it to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup in India and they will be hoping for another strong run in October and November.

Skipper Babar Azam is an ODI run-machine, scoring 18 centuries and 26 fifties in his first 100 appearances in the format and reaching 5,000 runs faster than any player in history.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is a top-class ally for Babar and Pakistan's bowling attack, led by brilliant left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi, should cause problems for their opponents.

New Zealand

Current Outright odds - 15/2

New Zealand have lost to Australia and England in the last two World Cup finals and they were outclassed by India in a 3-0 ODI series defeat in January.

Spinning all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell will be useful players in India and batters Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell have established themselves at international level, while inspirational captain Kane Williamson has returned to the squad after injury.

However, experienced seamer Tim Southee is a major doubt due to a fractured thumb.

South Africa

Current Outright odds - 10/1

South Africa have had some brilliant one-day teams, but have never made it past the World Cup semi-finals and their 2023 crop may struggle to snap that trend.

Their ODI form has been patchy - at one stage this year it looked as though they might miss out on automatic qualification for the World Cup - and captain Temba Bavuma will have to cope without injured fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala.

Sri Lanka

Current Outright odds - 25/1

Sri Lanka swaggered through July's ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, winning all eight of their matches, including a 128-run drubbing of the Netherlands in the final.

Their batting can be hit and miss, but they have some talented all-rounders, including ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, and the Lankans - World Cup winners in 1996 and runners-up to India in 2011 - could be dangerous outsiders.  

Afghanistan

Current Outright odds - 33/1

Afghanistan were automatic qualifiers for the World Cup and warmed up with an impressive ODI series win in Bangladesh in July.

Their coach, former England batter Jonathan Trott, wants to see more consistency from his side's top-order batters in 50-over cricket, but superstar all-rounder Rashid Khan is part of a world-class spin attack who should relish Indian pitches.

Bangladesh

Current Outright odds - 50/1

Bangladesh have enjoyed some great World Cup victories, upsetting India and South Africa in 2007 and beating England at the 2011 and 2015 tournaments.

Shakib Al Hasan was man of the match in all three of their 2019 World Cup wins over South Africa, the West Indies and Afghanistan.

However, the legendary all-rounder is on the wane at the age of 36 and his younger team-mates have struggled to hit the heights in 50-over cricket.

Netherlands

Current Outright odds - 750/1

The Netherlands secured the final spot at the World Cup by reaching the final of July's qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe.

They claimed thrilling victories against the West Indies and Scotland to seal a fifth World Cup appearance, but were hammered by Sri Lanka in the Qualifier final and face a daunting task in India.