When we talk about the world’s most popular sports cricket won’t be topping any list. But, it is quite popular. The main reason is that it is the number one sport in India. When you take into account the population of this Asian country you understand that even with its worldwide anonymity this sport is viewed by millions. It is a daily subject for conversation in the land of Maharajas but today more than ever. Why? Well, we have a World Cup on our hands, people. Now that you’re aware of this fact let’s talk about this competition.
When you get into it, cricket is quite an interesting sport. If nothing else, it is highly competitive. For people who love it, the World Cup is the biggest sports event of the year. Yes, we must have the soccer WC a few weeks ago, but, for cricket lovers, the show is on now. Even if you’re not a big fan of it from a sporting perspective you might pursue it with other interests in mind. We are of course talking about the Cricket World Cup betting. You don’t have to love the sport to bet on it. Understanding the rules would suffice.
Winning a bet is not an easy task, especially if you’re not a big fan of the sport. To understand the odds and the handicap tied to this particular wager you’ll need a little bit of help. This is what we’re going to provide for you today. Keep on reading and allow us to educate you on the subject of who are the favorites to win the Cricket World Cup 2024. If you follow closely from our first paragraph, you’ll understand the betting favorite that comes first.
1. India
Let’s start with the most obvious answer. India is where cricket is the most popular sport. Millions of people watch it, play it, and talk about it daily. Their domestic cricket competition is the world’s strongest league tied to this sport. None of this is a surprise. In the same manner, you’re not surprised that India is the betting favorite to win the whole thing. They did it in the past and they can do it again. What makes them the first favorites to lift the cup is also the fact that they are the host nation.
Furthermore, the hopes of the nation lie on the back of the team’s captain and one of the world’s premium players Rohit Sharma. The rest of the team is not to be neglected as we’re talking about an experienced first eleven that have hours of playing together behind them. We also shouldn’t forget about the likes of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. India has what it takes to go all the way, and we’re not expecting anything less. In the past India managed to lift the cup twice, with their last success coming over a decade ago in 2011.
2. England
Another nation is in love with this sport. England is the home country of the sport itself and the reigning World Champion. They managed to lift the trophy four years ago and the team has similar ambitions now. Whether they can do it again remains to be seen, but in his sport winning back-to-back is not out of the question. Of course, as it’s usually the case, the English team will be under a lot of pressure from the local media.
In this domain, their cricket team is no different from their football one. When it comes to the strength of the playing squad the team will rely on the old guard who managed to win it all in 2019. But, there will also be a few fresh faces. The competition is strong but this England team could pull it off with a bit of luck. The eyes of the world and UK press will be on the likes of Be Stokes and James Anderson.
3. Australia
When it comes to cricket there are no surprises. People know who the powerhouses are. Australia is another one. It is no wonder that cricket is popular in the land down under considering that they were a United Kingdom colony for centuries, similar to India. But, Australia managed to upset their home country, and today they are the world’s most successful nation when it comes to cricket. In the past Aussies managed to lift the cup five times. This is quite the record.
Their domination started with the 1999 World Cup. After that one, they managed to win three consecutive trophies. Their latest success came in 2015, which is not all that far away. Australia is hoping that they will take the reins of this sport once again this year. The players to look after during the upcoming WC are David Warner, Pat Cummins, and Glen Maxwell. Aussies will put up a fight, you shouldn’t doubt that.
4. South Africa
While in Africa football is the most popular sport similar to the rest of the world, the southern part of the continent is a bit different. South Africa is in love with cricket. It is not only a platonic affair. No, they have results to back it up. They are also hoping for more at the upcoming World Cup. Yes, they are not clear-cut favorites as the three nations from above but they have a stake in this competition.
They were the host nation in 2003 and will share the honor with Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027. But the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis, and Lungisani Ngidi will look to make an immediate impact. Yes, it will not be an easy task considering the competition and the strength of the rest of the teams, but there is hope.
At least according to the bookmakers. This is a unique competition, so everyone holds a chance but if you look at the past winners, only a few nations have had the honor. The first two cups were lifted by the joint endeavor of the West Indies. After them, the only teams that lifted the cup were India, England, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. RSA will be looking to join this elite company.