India’s success off the field has not been matched by their performances on it at World Cups over the last decade but with a near-perfect buildup, familiar conditions and recent history on their side, the hosts are favourites to end their title drought.

Australia avoided a series whitewash in India after their top order fired together and Glenn Maxwell impressed with the ball to secure a comprehensive 66-run victory in the third and final one-day international in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Visas have been issued for the Pakistan team for their participation in the 50-overs World Cup in India, the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday, following complaints of a delay in the process.

India batsmen Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer scored centuries to lay the platform for a 99-run win over Australia in their rain-hit second one-day international (ODI) in Indore on Sunday that sealed a 2-0 series victory ahead of the World Cup.

A second-string England cruised to a 48-run victory over Ireland in the second ODI at Trent Bridge this morning, bowling out the visitors for 286 after racking up 334-8.

Seamer Mohammed Shami claimed career-best figures of 5-51 and India’s frontline batters gave a good account themselves to secure their five-wicket victory against Australia in the opening one-day international.

India lifted the Asia Cup after routing defending champions Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final with Mohammed Siraj claiming a career-best 6-21, including four wickets in one over, at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana will miss the Asia Cup final against India after sustaining a hamstring injury during their win over Pakistan, the country’s cricket board (SLC) said.

Sri Lanka kept their Asia Cup title defence alive as they beat Pakistan by two wickets in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to book their place in Sunday’s final against India.

A record-breaking century by Ben Stokes propelled England to a crushing 181-run win over New Zealand in the third one-day international as the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

India sailed into the final of the Asia Cup after beating defending champions Sri Lanka by 41 runs in a low-scoring Super Four stage contest at the R Premadasa Stadium.

India beat rivals Pakistan by 228 runs after Virat Kohli passed 13,000 in one-day internationals en route to his 47th century and KL Rahul marked his return from injury with a ton in a lopsided Asia Cup Super Four clash in Colombo.