India and Australia will clash in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. In many ways, it is apt that these two teams are battling for the trophy. This final is not a contest between the two best teams because there has been only such team in this World Cup and that is India, which has played 10 unbelievable games to reach this stage. Australia, meanwhile, faced two defeats, losing to India and South Africa, and also had a scare against Afghanistan.
Still, Sunday’s final is going to be an interesting one. It is not the contest but the rivalry that will make it absorbing. Cricket lovers in the Indian subcontinent might want to believe that the India-Pakistan rivalry is still the greatest. However, recent results in major ICC knockout tournaments tell us a different story: India has dominated Pakistan. The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has given way to the India-Australia cricket rivalry. And that’s the real competition in modern cricket.
Even-steven
India has had a stunning path to the 2023 ODI World Cup final. There is much talk about the three fast bowlers of India who indeed have been brilliant. But it’s not the first time that Indian fast bowlers have had a great ODI World Cup tournament. In 2003, India reached the final with the help of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, and Javagal Srinath. They were brilliant in that edition, which, too, culminated in a final between India and Australia. But their brilliance was not enough for India to win the trophy. It will not be the sole winning factor in 2023 either.
It is important to remember that Australia has three capable fast bowlers too — Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and their skipper Pat Cummins. The semi-final against South Africa was ample proof that if the Australian pace bowlers get it right, they can be a handful for the opposition. This threat exists in the upcoming final as well. While everyone has been raving over Mohammad Shami, Hazlewood has gone unnoticed. Of course, Shami has had a dream run, but Hazlewood has also been extremely consistent and effective.
And so, Sunday’s final shall not be decided by the fast bowlers. Both teams are pretty even in this regard.
Also read: This World Cup, Pakistan played low off field too — Akram’s caste slur, Razzaq’s…
Key difference
When the two teams met in the 2003 final, Harbhajan Singh was India’s only specialist spinner, emerging as the side’s best bowler claiming both the Australian wickets. India missed a second specialist spinner in that game, which won’t be the case this time around. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are more lethal while Australia’s Adam Zampa does not pose the same level of threat. As such, India’s spin department gives it a clear advantage.
The batting comparison between the two finalists is an interesting one. Though Rohit Sharma has been brilliant upfront, Travis Head has played pretty much in the same manner. Of course, the Indian skipper is more skilled than the Australian opener. But with a little bit of luck, Head can match Sharma on a given day. The same can be said for David Warner when compared to Shubham Gill. In fact, Warner is likely to supersede Gill in a cup final.
However, the middle order of Australia does not match up with that of India. With due respect to Glen Maxwell, his great innings came against an inexperienced Afghanistan. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have not been up to the mark in this competition. In comparison, India’s middle order has been phenomenal. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer have been superb. India scores a clear advantage here as well.
The role of the wicketkeeper-batsman in modern ODI cricket has been crucial for some time now. Historically, too, the ODI World Cup has been a wicketkeepers’ tournament since 1975. Deryk Murray of the West Indies played a key role in the 1975 win for his team. Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni have played match-winning knocks in ODI World Cup finals. Josh Inglis played a crucial knock in the semi-final against South Africa, but he is no match for KL Rahul who is a complete all-rounder batter. This gives India another advantage against Australia.
Lastly, Sharma has been a better skipper for India compared to Cummins for Australia. Despite India wielding an advantage over Australia in several departments, a win for the latter can’t be ruled out — Australia’s pace attack and openers are a real threat. However, India’s middle-order batting and their spinners are most likely to take us to the third World Cup glory.
Kush Singh @singhkb is founder, The Cricket Curry Tour Company. Views are personal.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)