Two best teams of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, India and Australia are poised for a blockbuster final as these titans will fight for the ultimate glory at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad Sunday.
Hosts India are banking on their tremendous form with bat and ball.
The home team have won all their 10 games, sealing victories in dominant fashion against every opponent en route to the grand finale.
All the Indian star batters in the shape of skipper Rohit Sharma (550 runs), Shubman Gill (350), Virat Kohli (711), Lokesh Rahul (386) and Shreyas Iyer (526) are in scintillating touch and scored plenty of runs for their team throughout the tournament.
Modern day greats Rohit (36 years) and Kohli (35) could be playing their last game of the 50-over World Cup and will surely want to end it in style.
Kohli already won a World Cup at home back in 2011, but for Rohit it has been an emotional journey as he was left out of the squad that won the tournament eventually.
And now, after 12 years, Rohit is leading the team in the title decider for another home World Cup trophy.
Besides their batting prowess, Indian pace attack comprising Jasprit Bumrah (18 wickets), Mohammed Siraj (13) and particularly Mohammed Shami (23 in just six matches) are in brilliant form along with the two regular spinners Ravindra Jadeja (16) and Kuldeep Yadav (15).
Australia on the other hand have won eight games in a row after losing their first two matches.
They have lifted their game at the right time to cruise to the final.
Although Australia were not that dominant in the group phase clashes like they used to be in previous World Cups which they won, a gigantic reputation of playing eight finals and becoming world champions for record five times show how tough they can be as an opponent in the finale.
A batting line-up with plenty of powerhouses in the form of David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell and the class of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne can neutralize India’s in-form bowling attack on their day.
And a pace attack consisting of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins can also crack open India’s batting depth.
The prime example came against South Africa when the Aussie pace attack exploited the condition superbly.
Not having a genuine bowler as the fifth option can be a concern for Australia and the support of almost 132,000 fans cheering for the home team will definitely test Australia’s nerve in the largest cricket stadium of the world.
Australia will be gunning to decorate the trophy cabinet furthermore and add a sixth 50-over World Cup trophy while India are aiming to claim their third and thus bring joy to more than a billion fans by ending the home World Cup campaign on a perfect note.