ODI World Cup 2023: India And Aussies Spark Today (Image:Twitter/ICC)
The much-awaited thrilling India-Australia gunfire in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is all set to begin shortly at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today by 2 pm in the afternoon. The weather seems favourable with no rain expected. Expectations are high as the dynamic Indian captain is in his exceptional form and is forecasted to repeat the staggering run hunt in his previous 2019 outing in which he scored a spectacular five century.
The Indian team, with a top order of powerful band including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are looking forward for a thrilling encounter. However, the biggest question to India is to find an opener with Rohit Sharma as Shubhman Gill is reportedly ill and is likely to miss the match. Predictions are pointing KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, although the later looks like the most ideal replacement.
The bowling team set with the terrific trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Muhammad Siraj, and Mohammed Shami will be complemented by Ravichandran Ashwin and spinner Kuldeep Yadav. All-rounders, the dynamic duo of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja is sure t o provide a cricketing spectacle.
The team is led by Rohit Sharma, who was the man in form for India in 2019 World Cup. The Indian opener smashed 648 runs at an average of 81 in that edition to emerge as the top run-getter. He pumped a 57 ball 81 in the third ODI in the recently concluded series against the Aussies and is expected to retain his form Today. He is closing in a thousand runs in ODI World Cup.
Australia, one of the strongest bunches in the ten is all set to beat the opponents, even though the right-arm fast bowler Pat Cummins is still adapting to the role of team captain. Travis Michael Head is suffering from an injury, occurred just before the season, and Australia is expecting more from their middle-ordered batters. The iconic duo David Warner and Steven Smith might be playing their final World Cup and is expected to contribute their best performance. Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell are lined up in the middle.
Bowling is the weapon of Aussies, and features Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. Australia’s Adam Zampa is the top ODI wicket taker this year. His 12 wickets are the most by a visiting spinner in India since the 2019 World Cup and picked up a four-wicket haul in Chennai in March. Mitchell Starc, the left arm pacer of Australia grabbed the phenomenal 49 wickets from the previous two editions. He is the only bowler with a 3 five-wicket hauls in World Cup’s.
It was just last month that India secured 399-5, the highest ever ODI score in ODI’s against Australia.
In the opening match held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the defending champions England met the last edition’s runners up New Zealand.
