AHMEDABAD: The opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023 featured the defending champions, England, and the runners-up from the previous edition, New Zealand.
Despite New Zealand started their ICC World Cup 2023 Campaign with 9 wickets victory, fans disappointed to find an empty stadium in a well-known venue.
“Astonishingly, the renowned cricket stadium, with a capacity of 132,000 people, remained oddly empty as the match began.”
Despite the usual excitement surrounding the World Cup, the crowd was unusually small. Fans from around the world took to social media sites, specifically X (previously Twitter), to express their dismay at the empty seats in the largest cricket arena in the world.
Imagine hosting a world cup with a population of 1.6 billion people☕☕
— AHم AR〽️🎗️ (@Anonymous_56_Aa) October 5, 2023
Still having empty stadium and dirty seats in the opening match of #WorldCup .
A moment of humiliation for India 🇮🇳
🔔 ka Lichest Board for a reason ☕#ENGvsNZ #icccricketworldcup2023#BCCI #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/uQ8pZwcjIT
Disappointing to see World Cup opening in front of not even a few hundred spectators in Ahmedabad. Very disappointing #ENGvNZ #ENGvsNZ #CWC23 https://t.co/SnsCUR9v5C pic.twitter.com/3GEAvGTvxZ
— SAAD 🇵🇰 (@SaadIrfan258) October 5, 2023
I thought Indian fans loved cricket?! Hardly anyone at the stadium to watch the opener of the World Cup😳🫤 #ENGvsNZ #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/lV8YVatBjg
— Haroon (@hazharoon) October 5, 2023
Despite the disappointment in the stands, the cricket action on the field was nothing short of spectacular. Despite Joe Root’s courageous 77-run innings, New Zealand’s bowlers held England to a total of 282 runs.
After a promising start, the English momentum slowed down after the dismissals of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow.
Root hit his 37th ODI half-century off 57 balls, including two fours and a spectacular reverse scoop shot for a six. Unfortunately, Phillips’ offspin ended his innings.
Despite England’s troubles, Adil Rashid (15) and Mark Wood (13) finished their innings with an undefeated partnership of 30 runs.
Fast bowler Matt Henry starred for New Zealand, taking 3-48, while spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips each took two wickets.
Devon Conway, who struck a wonderful 152, and Rachin Ravindra, who contributed with a magnificent 123, forged an unbroken partnership of 273 runs for the second wicket, easily reaching the goal with 13.4 overs to spare with 9 wickets in hand.
