The stage is as big as it gets. It is a battle of nerves to get hands on the silverware. The fans of both sides have reached the destination with bells on and the whole cricketing fraternity is licking its lips for what is going to be an uphill battle between two giants of the game.
The significance of the contest is so immense that the outcome will make fans of one side bounce off the walls, while the other side will get down in the dumps. Both teams are riding high on a victory chariot and the face off between the two can be envisaged to rouse people to fever pitch.
Courtesy By: Mint
It will only be the second instance in the 13 editions long history of the World Cup that the finalists have played one between them. Walking down the memory lane, an emerging and aspiring Indian side met a dominant Australian side in the final of World Cup 2003 and were beaten comprehensively. After two decades and 4 editions, the two teams are set for another showdown, but things are relatively different this time as far as team strengths are concerned.
As a trivia, India’s journey so far is akin to that of Australia in the World Cup 2003, and vice versa. Then, Australia had reached finals after winning 10 matches on the trot, so is the case for India this year. And India had reached the finals in 2003 after winning 8 games in a row, exactly what Australia have done this year.
An Indian captain lifting an ICC trophy will be a sight for sore eyes for Indian fans who are waiting for the glory moment since 2013 Champions Trophy. On the other hand, Australia will look to augment the footing they have carved for themselves in the cricketing world by adding another trophy to their cabinet.
India-
It has been a fairytale for Rohit and co so far. Whatever the conditions, whoever the opponents, they spared nothing. But if something at least has landed them into trouble are the Aussies in the first match itself at Chennai. Indian top order will take the challenge of Aussies pace attack of note, who not only perturbed Indians earlier in the tournament, but also engendered panic into a lethal batting order of South Africa in the semifinal.
Having blotted out the stigmas in relation to World Cup and knockouts, Virat Kohli is at the acme of ODI cricket batsmanship, and a good innings in the finals will be cherished by fans for and ever. On the other side, there is Rohit Sharma, the hotshot, who has set in his ways irrespective of opponents and conditions, smashing the ball from the word go.
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Shubhman Gill has batted beautifully and may have reserved his best for the finals at his favorite venue. More than anyone else, Gill himself will be itching to enthrall the cricketing world with a big knock and there can’t be a better stage to do so. Shreyas Iyer’s coming to the form has been the biggest positive for India during the course of this campaign, as the Mumbai lad has smashed four fifty plus scores in a row now including two back to back centuries. Lokesh Rahul, apart from his wicket keeping brilliance, has stepped up when needed, and the Aussies would not have forgotten his emphatic 97* at Chennai.
Courtesy By: Hindustan Times
There is no second thought that India have been the best bowling side this tournament. 95 wickets in 10 games at 20.90 apiece speak volumes about the prowess of Indian bowlers. Mohammad Shami is sitting at the top with most number of wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, if among lesser wickets, has been reluctant to give away any runs, maintaining an stunning economy rate under 4. Mohammad Siraj has proved to be a weak link and going through a dry spell in otherwise a well rounded bowling attack, as he has looked wayward more often than not. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav has been able to snare opponents as they have picked wickets as well as contained runs.
Australia-
The bigwigs of the World Cup have made it to the finals for the record 8th time, having won 5 out of 7 in the past. It was quite a mayhem for them this year when they lost back to back matches to India & South Africa at the start of the tournament, but soon they found their feets at overcoming their challengers.
It has not been quite a ruthless journey for them. Except for Adam Zampa who sits at number 2 in the list of most wicket takers this World Cup, none of their bowlers even make it to top 15 of that list. The trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have failed to outfox batsmen more often than not, but they were at their absolute best in the semifinal, and Australia will hope for them to deliver another such spell with the ball.
Courtesy By: ABP Live
The fire in their top order is something India will be vary of. The opening pair of David Warner and Travis Head has scored runs at 8.4 runs per over, considerably ahead of second best pair- Rohit Sharma & Shubhman- Gill who have managed a striking rate of 7.8 runs per over.
Mitchell Marsh and Glen Maxwell have not been consistent but two centuries for each mean they can be match winners on their day. Steve Smith has had a quiet tournament so far, but none can deny the fact that he is a force to reckon with when it comes to knockout matches in the World Cup.
Most lethal thing about their batting is the ability to fetch massive individual scores, as out of five 150 plus scores this World Cup, 3 have been scored by the Aussies, including an unbelievable double ton by Glen Maxwell.
Probable Playing XI-
India-
Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul, Surya Kumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj
Australia-
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glen Maxwell, Josh Inglish, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Interesting facts and approaching milestones-
India’s only victory against Australia in World Cup knockout has come at the same venue where the final of World Cup 2023 will be played.
In the last 12 innings against Australia in ODIs, Virat Kohli has gone past fifty runs 8 times, but has not scored any century.
In last 6 ODI meetings between India and Australia in India, both teams have won equal number of matches
India and Australia have hit equal number of fours-265- in this tournament so far
Rohit Sharma is 11 fours away from 1000 fours in ODI cricket
Rohit Sharma needs 124 runs to become 2nd highest run-getter overall in a single ODI World Cup edition.
Indian top 5 batters in this tournament are averaging more than 50, the only team to do so.
No Indian player has ever scored a hundred in World Cup final ever, while Australia have scored two- Ricky Ponting in 2003 and Adam Gilchrist in 2007
Australia hold the records for highest team total (359/2) and biggest margin of victory in the World Cup final. Both records were made against India in 2003
Kohli is 89 runs away from becoming the first player to 800 runs in a single odi World Cup
Mohammad Shami is 5 wickets away from becoming the highest Wicket taker ever in a single world cup. He has already taken 3 fifers in this tournament in 6 games
Travis Head is 1 four away from completing 250 ODI fours and 1 six away from completing 50 ODI sixes
David Warner needs 75 more runs to complete his 7000 ODI international runs.
Mohammad Shami needs 6 wickets to complete his 200 ODI wickets.
David Warner has an aggregate of 1470 runs as an opening batter in the World Cup. 30 more runs, and he will become the second opener to aggregate 1500 or more runs
Virat Kohli has an aggregate of 1741 runs in the World Cup. Three more, and he will displace Ricky Ponting (1743) as the second-highest scorer in the World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar (2278) leads the chart
The first century by a batter in the India vs Australia title clash would be the 40th century in the 2023 edition. The Cricket World Cup 2023 would earn the distinction of becoming the first edition in history to witness 40 centuries
Jasprit Bumrah has never dismissed David Warner in ODI cricket
Contest to have a eye on-
Glen Maxwell vs Kuldeep Yadav- Contest between arguably the best batsman of spin from Australia vs India’s ace spinner is going to be one of the key factors which will decide the fate of the game. In the past in this format, Maxwell has come out aggressively against the chinaman bowler, smashing him for 99 runs in 69 balls with 5 fours and 9 sixes. But the Indian foe has dismissed Maxwell 3 times to make it a balanced match. Earlier in the tournament, Kuldeep had got the better of Maxwell with viciously turning delivery, something the Aussie will be vary of.
Courtesy By: Jagran
Match Particulars-
Date- 19th November 2023
Time- 2 PM Onwards
Venue- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Pitch and Weather Report-
Weather is expected to remain clear throughout the course of the match with temperature ranging between 32 and 23 during match time.
Courtesy By: Business Today
As per pitch curator, batting second will be difficult and anything around 315 will be a defendable total. Out of 4 matches played in Ahmedabad in this tournament, 3 won by the team batting second, with the highest team total being 286 by Australia against England. Overall, it is expected to be a good pitch for both batsmen and bowlers to make it an even contest between bat and ball.
Dream XI Team-
