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As the Cricket World Cup final approaches, the hosts India are firm favorites to secure victory on home soil, aiming to replicate their success from 2011. However, Australia, a five-time trophy-lifter, is determined to spoil the party, showcasing resilience after a shaky start in the tournament.
Led by captain Pat Cummins, the Australians overcame initial setbacks, securing a spot in the final with a tense win over South Africa. Their eighth appearance in the World Cup final promises an intense battle against an imperious Indian side, which has been unstoppable over the past six weeks.
India's journey to the final has been flawless, winning all nine matches in the group stage and clinching a semi-final victory against New Zealand. Virat Kohli's outstanding performance, breaking records with 711 runs, adds to the home team's confidence, while Mohammed Shami leads the wicket-taking charts.
The final, scheduled for Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, holds the promise of high-stakes cricket with a capacity for 132,000 supporters. The pressure on India is acknowledged, especially if the match becomes closely contested, as they have not faced significant challenges throughout the tournament.
Australia's task is clear – silence the home crowd and disrupt India's batting powerhouse. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will play a crucial role in containing the formidable trio of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. However, even if Australia manages to break through, the Indian lineup boasts in-form players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, supported by a versatile bowling attack.
Anticipated Playing XI for the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final Showdown:
India:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Suryaumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
Australia:
- Travis Head
- David Warner
- Mitchell Marsh
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Glenn Maxwell
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Marcus Stoinis
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Adam Zampa
- Josh Hazlewood
- Mitchell Starc
Reflecting on the head-to-head history, Australia has dominated in the 150 ODIs played, winning 83 matches compared to India's 57 victories. However, recent encounters favor India, who have won three out of the four games in the past two months.
As the anticipation builds, India holds the edge in match odds with a 4/9 chance of winning the World Cup, while Australia stands at 9/5, according to Betfair. The stage is set for a thrilling final, where India aims to secure their crowning moment, while Australia seeks to create an upset in the quest for cricket glory.