India favourites but Australia can create upset

After almost two months of upsets, underdogs going places, defending champions cutting a poor figure, Bangladesh behaving like thugs and Sri Lanka showing what a sloppy team they are, we have reached the finals of the 2023 World Cup. Five-time Champions Australia will take on two times champions India in what is essentially the replay of the 2003 World Cup finals in Johannesburg.

Both the finalists had contrasting campaigns. India have been formidable from the start and have enjoyed an unbeaten run winning ten games in a row. Australia, meanwhile, started off with two defeats in two games, but then found momentum and have won eight games in a row.

India look a side that has all bases covered even though they don’t have Hardik Pandya, their all-rounder. They perhaps peaked too early and haven’t been tested whereas the Aussies had to struggle to make it to the final four given the horrendous start they had.

Both teams have formidable pace attacks, solid batting line-ups and one area that India has an edge over Australia is their spin department.

It will be interesting what sort of wicket we will get here at Narendra Modi Stadium. Don’t be surprised if it assists spin and India will be tempted to draft in R. Ashwin to the playing eleven.

But India do not have to fall back on spin because in Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj they have the best pace attack in the competition, and they have done more damage than their spinners.

Australia’s fielding even things out though. They were too good in Calcutta in the semi-finals, and it was their catching that knocked South Africa out of the final. Although India have played like a champion side, they are due for a bad game and Australia’s discipline can force a few errors from the hosts.

A mouthwatering contest is awaiting us.

Australia (From):

Pat Cummins (Captain), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc. 

India (From):

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav. 

Umpires:

Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Richard Illingworth (ENG) 

Third Umpire:

Joel Wilson (WI) Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)