Today marks the start of the 2023 World Cup with an exciting match in Chennai and it is ODI match not t20. It’s a clash between the top-ranked ODI team and the five-time champions, both aiming to win the tournament. The anticipation is high as the gears of the World Cup are set in motion, promising a thrilling contest.
Australia is a dominant force in World Cup cricket, having secured titles in various parts of the world. Despite their recent form, which includes just one win in their last six ODIs, their reputation as World Cup champions remains intact.
India, too, has entered ICC events as favorites over the past decade, but they haven’t managed to clinch the title. Now, the responsibility falls on Rohit Sharma, who faces the challenge of breaking this streak and dealing with the pressure of winning on home soil, a feat the last three World Cup hosts have struggled to achieve.
If India has somehow missed the significance of this occasion, it may become apparent on Sunday. They have traveled across the country without practicing, and it’s a concern. We hope that the match will kick-start with some exciting performances, and with the recent ‘100 Medals’ achievement at the Asian Games, there’s a chance that the 50-over format will regain popularity among the public.
Both teams recently played warm-up series with less competitive teams and somewhat different conditions. But now, for this important match, both captains, who are leading in a World Cup for the first time, acknowledge that the gap between their teams is very narrow.
Rohit Sharma’s team may have
stronger spinners, but Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell from Australia can be quite challenging. While Australia has Mitchell Starc as a left-arm bowler, it’s Siraj and Bumrah from India who excel in the early Power Play overs.
Even small disruptions to their game plans appear to be in harmony for both teams. Australia is without the fearless batsman Travis Head, while India’s emerging talent Shubman Gill might not be able to play.
If the closeness we see on paper translates to the field, it might come down to which team can handle the pressure of potential setbacks better.
When match start:
India vs Australia, October 8, 2023, at 2:00 PM IST
Where match start:
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Weather Expectation:
It will be a warm afternoon turning into a sultry evening. There’s a slight 10% chance of light rain around the start time, but even if it does rain, it shouldn’t affect the match’s length.
Historical Venue:
These two teams played at this very stadium six months ago. Australia scored 269 runs, which is slightly below the average first-innings score in recent games here.
Pitch Type:
The pitch chosen for this match is made of black soil. While this doesn’t guarantee it will play the same as before, it suggests that spin bowlers will likely play a significant role during the match. So, batting first might be a good option.
India:
In the Indian team, there are mainly two positions that are being discussed. Firstly, there’s a gap at the top of the batting order due to Shubman Gill’s illness, and it’s likely that Ishan Kishan will fill that spot. Secondly, there’s the question of who will take the No. 8 position. Based on the conditions and observations during India’s practice sessions, local player Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to take up this role. This combination would give India a 3+3 attack strategy, with Hardik Pandya serving as the third seam bowler.
Tactics & Strategy:
Hardik Pandya has a good track record against Steve Smith, dismissing him five times in 75 balls bowled in this format. Therefore, Hardik is likely to be used as the first change bowler, especially if Smith comes to bat early in the innings or during the middle-overs, where Smith is expected to be a key player for Australia.
Probable Playing XI for India:
- Captain: Rohit Sharma
- Opening Batsmen: Rohit Sharma (c) and Ishan Kishan
- Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), and Hardik Pandya
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin
- Spin Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav
- Fast Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj
Australia:
Australia has a bit of a dilemma when it comes to the third all-rounder’s position. Cameron Green currently occupies this role at No. 6, but Marcus Stoinis has been making progress since his hamstring injury and has been working hard in the practice sessions. Captain Cummins mentioned that the decision on Stoinis’s selection is still uncertain and will be made closer to the game.
Tactics & Strategy:
Adam Zampa has a good track record in Chennai, where he was the Player of the Match in a series decider back in March. He has a favorable head-to-head record against several Indian batsmen. In ODIs, he has dismissed Kohli five times, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and KL Rahul four times each. This suggests that Zampa could play a crucial role in Australia’s bowling strategy.
Probable Playing XI for Australia:
- Opening Batsmen: David Warner
- Middle Order: Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell
- All-rounders: Cameron Green or Marcus Stoinis (depending on fitness)
- Wicketkeeper: Alex Carey
- Captain and Fast Bowlers: Pat Cummins
- Fast Bowlers: Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood
- Spin Bowler: Adam Zampa
Here are some interesting facts😊:
- Virat Kohli is the only Indian batsman in the current squad who has scored a century in a One Day International (ODI) match at Chepauk.
- Australia’s bowling in the first Power Play has been less effective lately. In their last 8 ODIs, they have taken only 4 wickets during the Power Play, and in none of those games, they managed to take more than 1 wicket.
- Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian spinner, has been highly effective in the middle overs of ODIs (overs 11-40) since 2022. During this period, he has taken an impressive 39 wickets at an average of 20.03.
Here’s what they said:
Rohit Sharma expressed his excitement about leading India in an ODI World Cup, calling it a dream come true for him.
Pat Cummins mentioned that he’s played more white-ball cricket in India than in Australia over the last decade. He believes that the familiarity with Indian conditions and their good performance in one-day cricket against India in the past few years will be an advantage for Australia.
Here are the squads for both teams:
India Cricket Squad:
Australia Cricket Squad:
