The biggest cricket stadium in the world is the first approved venue for the 10-team tournament.

It boasts a capacity of 120,000 after a renovation in 2020.

Arenas in Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai have all been shortlisted to stage fixtures.

However, there has been a delay in finalising venues due to complications posed by the monsoon season receding at different points in various parts of India.

Usually the International Cricket Council (ICC) announces World Cup schedules at least a year in advance, but this time it has also been waiting for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get the clearance from the Indian Government.

Aside from the monsoon concerns there are two key issues - getting a tax exemption for the tournament and visa clearance for the Pakistani team.

Except for ICC events, the country has not played in India since 2013.

The BCCI assured the ICC that visas for Pakistan would be cleared by the Indian Government.

The tax exemption has been part of an agreement that the BCCI signed with the ICC in 2014 when India was awarded the 2016 T20 World Cup, 2018 Champions Trophy, and 2023 ODI World Cup.

It ensured that the BCCI was obligated to help the ICC secure tax waivers.

Indian authorities told the ICC last year that it would be charged 20 per cent in tax for broadcast revenues at the tournament.

The ICC has listed estimated broadcasting income from the World Cup at $533.29 million (£436 million/€495 million).

This year's event is due to be the first time that India has been the sole host after co-hosting on three occasions.

In 1987, it staged the World Cup with Pakistan before the pair were then joined by Sri Lanka for the 1996 competition.

India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh then staged the 2011 edition.