If you’re looking to be part of the greatest cricket show on earth this year, fly on over to India for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The international event, being hosted by a country, where the sport is a favourite of more than a billion people, you can expect the atmosphere and excitement to be nothing short of electric.

So if the chance to be around this unbelievable amount of excitement and energy is something that catches your fancy, you better start packing now! However, if you’re still on the fence because you think you are going to have trouble finding your way around in India, let alone even getting there at first, you’ve come to the right place!

Travelling to India can appear daunting, especially for first-time visitors. That’s why we’ll go over important factors such as visa requirements, health risks, weather, culture and transportation so that your planning process can be smooth and your visit a fun and rewarding experience.

We’ll also discuss how Holiday eSIM can enhance your visit to the subcontinent, by giving you everything from lightning-fast mobile data instantly to rock-solid coverage as you go about attending matches all over the country. Whether you are cheering for Australia, England, or any other team, we can make your World Cup experience smooth and easy.

Planning your 2023 World Cup journey

Despite what you think, visiting India isn’t as difficult as it sounds. With just a little bit of planning and preparation, you can be on your way to an unforgettable adventure in less than a day.

Visa

You need a valid visa to enter India. It is highly recommended that you apply for an e-visa at the official Indian government portal here. Average turnaround times have been reported as short as less than 24 hours to 3-4 days.

You will need to fill out the online application form, upload a passport photo and a scanned copy of your passport, and pay a fee. You will receive an email confirmation with your e-visa, which you need to print out and carry with you.

Once you have your e-visa, nothing is stopping you from flying there. But wait! Let’s look at some other things you need to consider.

Health

Don't take your health lightly when you travel to India. Some bugs and germs can make you sick, so you need to be ready and protected.

Go see your doctor while you’re waiting for your e-visa and get all the shots you need. Some of the diseases you want to avoid are diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio, typhoid, and rabies. You also don't want to catch malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes. So take some pills to prevent it, and use some spray and nets to keep them away.

And lastly, don’t forget to watch what you eat and drink in India. The water and food can be unsafe, and cause you to have stomach problems. So stick to bottled water, and only eat food from places after researching them on online.

Culture

With 22 official languages, hundreds of dialects, various religions, and countless traditions, it is safe to say that India is a culturally diverse country.

You will encounter different customs and etiquette depending on where you go, but some general tips are to dress modestly (especially for women), respect religious places (such as temples, mosques, or churches), avoid public displays of affection, and bargain for goods (except in fixed-price shops).

You should also be prepared for some culture shock, such as crowds, noise, traffic, pollution, poverty, and beggars. Try to be patient, flexible, and open-minded when dealing with these challenges.

Get the Holiday eSIM advantage for your World Cup 2023 adventure

So imagine you’ve considered all the above factors and booked your tickets. The question that may remain in your mind is just how you’re going to stay connected during the World Cup.

You might be thinking that you can just grab a local SIM card on arrival and you’d be fine. But doing that is a little more complicated and comes with a set of unique challenges you have to keep in mind.

For starters, you would have to ensure you’re getting a SIM that works internationally. Although you can get a local SIM card with relative ease from the airport, you should know that it wouldn’t come with international roaming attached. You would then need to choose a more expensive plan that would not have the best rates or coverage you expect.

For more information on this topic, see our comprehensive guide to roaming charges in 2023.

What’s more? You would also need to ensure the plan you get would be enough for your requirements. You don’t want to just go for a plan that would have you running out of data and give you poor signal strength and speed, leaving you at the mercy of local networks.

Added to this, would be the sign-up process that requires you to submit ID proof and ultimately do the SIM installation yourself. Factor the language barriers you would potentially encounter and you’re in for a difficult time.

However, you can just get a Holiday eSIM prepaid plan and all this goes away!

With just the scan of a QR code, you can get highly affordable prepaid plans that work not only in India but in over 190 countries worldwide.

The best eSIMs for World Cup 2023 in India

eSIM Asia, Australia and USA

This eSIM gives you incredible value and performance along with the freedom to explore as it features support in over 30 countries worldwide. Featuring a phone number as well as 24/7 support, you can be assured you’re always within assistance should you run into any issues with your connection. Moreover, priced at just $12.60, you’re only paying about $2 per GB.

Features

  • 6GB high-speed 5G

  • Instant activation

  • Valid for 10 days

  • Coverage: 30 countries including India. For detailed information, check the product page.

  • Cost $12.60

Buy eSIM Asia, Australia and USA for 2023 World Cup

eSIM International

Made for the more international traveller, this prepaid eSIM gives you extended validity along with coverage in over 82 countries. This means you will enjoy more plan duration as well as more comprehensive coverage.

  • 6GB high-speed 5G data

  • Phone number included

  • Instant activation

  • Valid for 15 days

  • Coverage: Operates seamlessly in 82 countries, including India. Check the product page for a detailed list of supported countries.

  • Cost: $27.72

Buy eSIM International for World Cup 2023

eSIM Asia

An unlimited prepaid eSIM that offers coverage across Asia, you can just grab this if you are flying into India from anywhere in Asia. With an included phone number and extended validity, this is a suitable alternative to the above packages. Offers limited coverage in Oceania.

  • 6GB 4G data in India. 5G in other countries

  • Phone number included

  • Instant activation

  • Valid for 15 days

  • Coverage: Operates seamlessly in 34 countries, including India. Check the product page for a detailed list of supported countries.

  • Cost: $18.89

Buy eSIM Asia for World Cup 2023

eSIM Global

This eSIM features unlimited data so you can be assured of never running into a scenario where you exhaust your data and be cut off from the world. Supported in 135 countries worldwide, this is a perfect option for cricket fans who are truly globally mobile.

  • 6GB 4G data in India. 5G in other countries

  • Phone number included

  • Instant activation

  • Valid for 15 days

  • Coverage: Operates seamlessly in 135 countries, including India. Check the product page for a detailed list of supported countries.

  • Cost: $30

Buy eSIM Global for World Cup 2023

eSIM World

With support in over 190 countries, including India, this plan provides 10GB of high-speed 4G data valid for 14 days. This comprehensive worldwide coverage ensures that you can stay connected anywhere in the world.

  • 10GB 4G data

  • No phone number. This is a pure data eSIM

  • Instant activation

  • Valid for 14 days

  • Coverage: Works seamlessly in 190 countries, including India. Check the product page for details.

  • Cost: $44.10

Buy eSIM World for World Cup 2023

Why choose Holiday eSIM for your 2023 World Cup experience?

Our eSIM plans intend to give you the best in class connectivity in terms of network quality and data allowance along with a host of other goodies. Let’s look at each in detail.

Data allowance

With data allowances ranging from 6GB to unlimited, you can get the perfect plan that fits your needs. You don’t have to compromise on your usage. You should also realise that many operators only give you tiny amounts of data like 1 or 2GB while we offer three to 4 times that.

Ease of installation

Holiday eSIM does away with any extra app installation and instead allows you to connect by just scanning a QR code. This way you can get your connection in a matter of minutes. There are also no ID proofs or complicated KYC hoops to jump through. We don’t want to mar your World Cup excitement by making you stand in queues with documents on hand and dealing with local bureaucracy.

Network quality

Powered by some of the world’s best network providers, you can experience robust coverage at all supported destinations including India

Zero sharing restrictions

Not only are you free from any form of contract with us, but you are also able to share your mobile data with Wi-Fi without restrictions. This is in contrast to some providers limiting your ability to share your mobile data.

Safe and secure

You can trust Holiday eSIM to keep your data from falling into the wrong hands. By freeing you from the need to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi, your data remains encrypted and secure. Read our post on how eSIMs keep you safe while overseas.

How to install and activate your World Cup eSIM ?

Installing and activating your Holiday eSIM only takes less than a minute. For step-by-step instructions, check our cross-platform eSIM set up guide here. Just be sure to only activate your eSIM once you land in India to avoid triggering the plan validity countdown.

Making the most of your 2023 World Cup experience

Some general tips to keep in mind for an international traveller coming to India to watch the cricket world cup 2023 are;

Plan your trip according to the weather and the match schedule. India has a diverse climate and different regions have different seasons. You can check the weather forecast and the match schedule online to decide where and when to go.

Get vaccinated and take precautions against malaria and other diseases. India requires travellers to have a Covid-19 vaccine certificate and a negative RT-PCR test result before entering the country. You may also need other vaccinations depending on where you are travelling from and to. You can consult your doctor or a travel health clinic for advice.

Be careful about what you eat and drink. India has a rich and diverse cuisine, but it can also pose a risk of food poisoning or traveller's diarrhoea. To avoid getting sick, you should only eat freshly cooked food from reputable restaurants or hotels, avoid salads, juices, street food, raw food, and ice, and drink only bottled water or boiled water. You should also carry some diarrhoea tablets or charcoal tablets in case you need them.

Respect the local culture and dress conservatively. India is a country with many religions, languages, customs, and traditions. You should be respectful of the local culture and avoid offending anyone with your behaviour or attire.

For example, you should take off your shoes before entering a temple or a mosque, avoid public displays of affection, refrain from criticising the government or religion, and dress modestly especially when visiting religious sites or rural areas.

Beware of scams. India is a popular destination for tourists, but it also attracts many scammers who try to rip off unsuspecting travellers. Some common scams include fake taxis, inflated prices, counterfeit money, fake tickets, fake guides, fake souvenirs, and fake charities.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, you should always do your research before booking anything, negotiate the price before buying anything or taking any service, check the authenticity of the money and the tickets, use official channels or websites for booking or information.

Generally, be wary of anyone who approaches you unsolicited or offers you something too good to be true.

Explore India beyond 2023 World Cup

India is vast and diverse that offers a lot of attractions and experiences for travellers. Whether you are a cricket fan or not, you can use Holiday eSIM to explore India beyond the 2023 World Cup.

Here are some of the places you can visit in India after the World Cup:

Rajasthan

If you are interested in history and culture, Rajasthan is a must-see destination. Rajasthan is the land of kings, forts, palaces, and deserts. You can explore the majestic forts and palaces in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, or Jaisalmer, experience the desert safari in Thar, or witness the colourful festivals and fairs in Pushkar or Bikaner.

Goa

If you are looking for some fun and adventure, Goa is the perfect choice. Goa is India's smallest state but also its most popular tourist spot. Goa is famous for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, water sports, and Portuguese heritage. You can party at the Baga or Anjuna beach, visit the churches and museums in Old Goa, or try some water activities like parasailing or scuba diving..

Kerala

If you are looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway, Kerala is the place for you. Kerala is known as God's Own Country for its lush greenery, serene backwaters, and ayurvedic treatments. You can cruise along the Alleppey or Kumarakom backwaters, visit the tea plantations in Munnar, or enjoy the beaches in Kovalam.

We hope this post has inspired you to start packing to experience the excitement of catching the 2023 Cricket World Cup live in India. Make your travels easy and seamless with Holiday eSIM.