In less than 48 hours from now, the best team of CWC 2023 host India lock horns with the best team of the Cricket World Cup Australia at the iconic Narendra Modi cricket stadium at Ahmedabad, Gujrat. 

The curtain of memorable CWC creating many milestones will have its curtain drawn after deciding whether it ends in record 6th for Australia or 3rd for team India. Australia won it 5 times in 1987 in India, 1999 in England ,2003 in South Africa, 2007 in West Indies and 2015 in Australia. India on the other hand won twice. Once in 1983 in England and then in 2011 in India. In CWC 2023 indomitable team India has stormed into the final winning 9 of its group matches against all opposition with ease and comfort. Australia lost their first two matches but bounced back like hungry Kangaroos in the following 7 matches in their own brilliant styles.  No one will disagree that two better teams of the tournament have reached the final. 

India won their group match against India played at Chinnaswamy Stadium Chennai on 8 October very easily 6 wickets. Australia winning the toss and electing to bat was bundled out for 199 runs in 49.3 overs. India cruised home scoring 201/4 in 41.2 overs. KL Rahul scored unbeaten 97 and Virat Kohli scored 85. Australia has revived their winning momentum after losing their second match as well against South Africa by 134 Runs. India on the other hand won all its matches before beating New Zealand in a high scoring Semi Final at Mumbai. Australia just edged South Africa out of the tournament beating them by 3 wickets. 

World Cup Cricket Finals 1975-2023

Both India and Australia have horses for courses, a number of match winners both with the bat and the ball. Five times winners Australia has won the championship from 5 different continents -Europe, Australia, America, Africa, and Asia. Many term them as Brazil of Cricket. Both Brazil and Australia don Golden Yellow and Green. Brazil has not won in its Hexa Mission. It will be interesting if Australia can do that. On the other hand, host India now having possibly the best team in their history won World Cup under the leadership of legendary Kapil Dev Nikhanj upsetting all conquering West India at Lords, England in 1983. Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India won it second time out gunning Sri Lanka at home in 2011. 

In Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav India possess the most dynamic batting line up of CWC 2023. All are in rhyme. In most matches the one or two of the top orders batted deep and scoring freely took Indian score out of the reach of the opponents. Only in the group match against Australia India lost three quick wickets before Virat and Rahul retrieved them. Australian pacers Starc, Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will have to bowl at their best to dislodge the top order. But then Virat Kohli at the peak of his form has already surpassed all scoring his 50th ODI century. Rohit is in prolific form, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill are blooming. KL Rahul is playing steadily well. India bats deep. Even Surya Kumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja can add quickfire runs. It will however depend how Indian batting fares against vastly improved Australian attack at Ahmedabad. 

Australian batsmen on the other hand have regained their fiery touch. David Warner and Travis Head have the highest strike rate in CWC 2023 in the first power play. Given any room to strike both usually love to land the white ball way above the boundary line. Bumrah, Siraj and Shami must get rid of both before they cut loose. Mitchel Marsh is equally flamboyant and can tee away given opportunities. It will be a huge contest between Australian top order and Indian pacers. Rohit may opt to launch one of his master spinners Ravindra Jadeja or Kuldeep Yadab for few overs in the power play. Australia has two cool headed champion batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuchagne in the middle order. If these two can set wings Australia may score enough to give their bowlers cushion to bowl with freedom. Then there is X Factor of Australian batting Glen Maxwell. Indian fans will pray that Maxi does not repeat his killer form against Afghanistan. The one-legged dynamic Maxwell scoring 201 not out will remain an outstanding feature of CWC 2023. Off course India has enough weapons to keep Maxi and other flamboyant Aussies in Check. 

The difference between the two evenly matched teams may be created in the fielding. World has seen how sharp and agile the Australians against South Africa at Eden Gardens were. One or two brilliant catches and some run outs may change the course. 

Let us hope that no new controversy will be created in choosing or changing the wicket or toss manipulation. Let cricket be played fair and the better team win.

BDST: 0906 HRS, NOV 18, 2023
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