What is special about this year's World Cup opener?

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India will hold the mega event across 10 different venues

The Narendra Modi Stadium will host the tournament's opener between New Zealand and England on October 5. — PTI

The moment the fans have been eagerly waiting for is finally here as the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 begins in India on October 5.

The mega event will see 10 teams fighting for the elusive title across 10 venues till November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener, between defending champions England and last edition’s runner-up New Zealand, and the final.

However, only for the third time in the history of the World Cup, the hosts will not be featuring in the first match of the tournament.

The first time it happened was in 1979, when England, the tournament's hosts, did not play the first game as West Indies took on India.

The second time this happened was in 1996 when India co-hosted the World Cup with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with England and New Zealand playing the opener in Ahmedabad — where this year’s first match will be played.

The 2023 World Cup is also the first time the entire World Cup is being held in one country, with India taking the responsibility to host the teams in 10 different venues.

But it is the Blues who will suffer with the most hectic travelling schedule because they are the only side to play in nine different venues.

Going all the way back to 1975, when the first-ever World Cup was played in history. The tournament took place in England, with the home side playing the opener against India.

The 1983 World Cup was also played in England, where, once again, the home side played the tournament's opener against New Zealand.

The 1987 World Cup, the first time it was played in a 50-over format, was co-hosted by Pakistan and India with the former playing the first game of the mega tournament against Sri Lanka.

The 1992 World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, saw both hosts taking on each other in the first game of the tournament. The two countries also hosted the 2015 World Cup, where the Black Caps played the tournament opener against Sri Lanka.

The 1999 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, saw England playing the tournament’s opener against the Islanders.

South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe hosted the 2003 World Cup, where West Indies took on the Proteas in the event’s opener.

The 2007 World Cup was entirely hosted by West Indies, and they were the one to play Pakistan in the first match of the tournament.

Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh co-hosted the 2011 World Cup, with the latter two teams featuring in the tournament’s opener.

The World Cup 2019 was co-hosted by England and Wales, with the former taking on South Africa in the opener.

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