On November 19, 2023, India defeated Australia in the Cricket World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world's largest cricket stadium, holding 132,000 spectators — to win their third ODI World Cup title. India had entered the tournament as overwhelming favorites and went unbeaten through the entire campaign, winning all 11 matches. The final was watched by an estimated 150 million viewers in India. The victory was particularly emotional as it ended a 12-year ICC trophy drought. Captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, both in likely their last World Cup, delivered match-winning performances. The celebrations across India — from the streets of Mumbai to remote villages — rivaled those of any national festival. Cricket's dominance as India's cultural obsession was reaffirmed, and the sport's financial center of gravity was confirmed: India generated over 90% of global cricket revenue.
India Wins the 2023 Cricket World Cup
India won the ICC Cricket World Cup for the third time, defeating Australia in the final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium before 132,000 spectators — the largest crowd in cricket history.
Historical Context
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