India, considering their unbeaten run in the mega event – 10 wins in 10 matches, begin as the favourites and will aim to become the ODI champions for the second time on home turf after 2011, when MS Dhoni’s team beat Sri Lanka to lift the trophy — 28 years since ‘Kapil’s Devils’ won the maiden title in 1983.
Here’s a lowdown on five things that will be key to India triumphing over the Aussies on Sunday.
BLAZING START FROM ROHIT SHARMA
Whether batting first or chasing a total, the anticipation around a blazing start from Rohit Sharma has remained a constant throughout this tournament, and the skipper will be expected to do the same in the final. Rohit has instilled a fearless attitude in the team with his aggressive approach at the top and, along with his opening partner Shubman Gill, has invariably laid a solid foundation Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to cash in on.
But it was Australia that didn’t allow Rohit to put any runs into his account in the teams’ opening match of the tournament, when the right-handed batter was dismissed for a duck. But Rohit went on to put that behind in style.
He came up with a spectacular 131 against Afghanistan in Delhi and also earned the ‘Man of the Match’ award in India’s eight-wicket win. He tops the list of Indian batters’ in terms of strike rate, scoring at a rate of 124.15. He is also the second-highest run-getter for India in the tournament, after Virat Kohli (711 runs), with 550 runs.
Rohit’s count of sixes in World Cups has reached 51, which is a new record. Out of those, 28 have come in this edition alone.
In the semi-final against New Zealand, Rohit scored a rapid 29-ball 47 that ensured India were in command from the start, and the hosts will hope the skipper continues in that fasihon for one more match.
ANOTHER SPECIAL ONE FROM VIRAT
Three centuries, five half-centuries, most runs so far by any batter, a milestone of 50 ODI centuries. That’s how special this World Cup has been for Kohli. His bow to Sachin Tendulkar sitting in the stands at the Wankhede Stadium after breaking his record of 49 ODI tons in the semi-final against New Zealand is one of the most iconic moments of the tournament.
It all began in India’s opening match itself, when India were tottering at 2 for 3 against Australia in Chennai. Kohli (85), along with KL Rahul (97 not out), turned the tables with their match-winning knocks to hand the two-time champions a six-wicket win.
Kohli, as mentioned earlier, is the highest run-getter in this edition so far with 711 runs in 10 matches at an astonishing average of 101.57
If he fires in the same fashion on Sunday, India will tick a major box in their plans for the big day.
KULDEEP vs MAXWELL
A lot of focus will be on Glenn Maxwell, who brought the bowlers to his feet in the match against Afghanistan with a double century (201 not out) to script an unbelievable win after Australia were reduced to 91/7 while chasing 292 to win.
A big-match player, Maxwell poses a major threat to India’s hopes, which is why the Indian bowling attack, especially spinner Kuldeep Yadav, will have to be a step ahead of the swashbuckling batter.
In Australia’s league match against India, Maxwell was bowled for 15 by Kuldeep. Since then, he has been dismissed by South African spinners Keshav Maharaj in the round-robin phase and Tabraiz Shamsi in the semi-final for just 1.
Kuldeep’s wrong-uns and the ability to keep the batters guessing can be the key against Maxwell. But it will also depend a lot on the track that will be on offer in Ahmedabad. Still, Kuldeep vs Maxwell will be one of the battles that could prove critical.
REMOVE MARSH, WARNER & HEAD EARLY
David Warner and his opening partners through the tournament, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, are known to switch gears rapidly. Their fearless approach to batting and ability to accelerate has been crucial to Australia winning eight matches in a row after losing their first two games.
With Head coming back into the side and hitting a blistering hundred straight away, Marsh has been pushed down to No. 3.
Once set, the trio can lead a brutal Australian assault and dominate the new ball.
Warner is Australia’s highest run-getter in the tournament with 528 runs in 10 matches at an average of 52.80. Marsh is the next best Australian batter with 426 runs in 9 matches at an average of 53.25. Head is also brimming with confidence after his 62 in the semi-final against the Proteas.
Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and the unplayable Mohammed Shami will have to stop these three batters from firing. If India manage to get rid of the three power hitters, Australia will be under immense pressure.
SHAMI THE ACE
India’s star pacer and the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, Shami wasn’t the part of the playing eleven when India kicked off their World Cup campaign on October 8.
The right-arm pacer was benched for four World Cup games; and when he got the opportunity after Hardik Pandya’s ankle injury, Shami grabbed it up in record-breaking fashion.
In his first match of this World Cup, against New Zealand in Dharamsala, he claimed a five-for and bagged the ‘Man of the Match’ award. But that was just the beginning.
Shami went on to pick 4/22 vs England, 5/18 vs Sri Lanka and 2/18 vs South Africa in the group matches. His best arrived in the semis, when he returned astonishing match-winning figures of 7/57 against New Zealand.
Australia have not faced Shami in this World Cup; and the way the Indian pacer is breathing fire, he can be Rohit’s go-to man once again in the grand finale.
That seven-wicket burst against the Kiwis made Shami the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 23 wickets in just 6 matches, which include three five-wicket hauls.