The last match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup is on Sunday, November 19, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India and Australia will play the final match, which will start at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. The last time these two teams faced each other in a World Cup final was in 2003. Australia came out victorious, winning the game by 125 runs and securing their third World Cup trophy. Who do you think will win this time? Let's find out.

Preview of India vs Australia ODI in ICC World Cup 2023

From losing the first two matches to reaching the final, Australia really improved their game through the last eight matches. Pat Cummins' team has shown an impressive turnaround after losing their first two matches in the tournament. They secured their spot in the final with a tense win against South Africa.

The Eden Garden pitch was slow in the second semifinal, making it challenging for batsmen to score runs. Despite this, South Africa managed to post a total of 212 runs. However, Australia faced a tough task in chasing down this modest target. The struggle was evident as they teetered on the edge, but ultimately, they secured a spot in the final by winning the match with a margin of 3 wickets. The Australians faced considerable pressure from the Proteas, who managed to take 7 wickets. Despite this challenging situation, the Aussies made a comeback, securing a win thanks to the responsible batting of captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Starc finished the match not out with 16 runs, while Cummins contributed 14 runs.

Travis Head was the top scorer for the team with 62 runs. Additionally, Steve Smith added 30 runs to the total, while David Warner was dismissed after scoring 29 runs.

Read more: World Cup 2023: Australia secure final berth by beating South Africa in low-scoring affair

This marks the eighth time Australia is participating in the World Cup Final, having previously won the trophy five times.

Yet, if Australia emerges as the focal point by Sunday night, it indicates a significant setback for India. India will be looking for its third World Cup title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Their last victory came in 2011 when they defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

India has been the most impressive team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, winning all 10 games in the tournament. They concluded the group stage at the top with nine wins in nine games, comfortably defeating almost every team in the competition. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they secured a spot in the final by beating New Zealand in the semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium with a 70-run victory in a high-scoring match.

Previously, India effortlessly defeated Australia by six wickets in their initial group-stage encounter, and there are no indications that their momentum will fade. Everything suggests that they are on track to win the tournament on their home ground, just as they did in 2011.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Kohli, Shreyas propel India to massive total in semifinal against New Zealand

India vs Australia Head to Head in ODI So Far

The cricketing rivalry between India and Australia in ODIs has been a fiercely contested battle, spanning a total of 150 matches. The head-to-head statistics reveal a closely fought competition, with Australia holding the advantage. Out of the 150 encounters, Australia emerged victorious in 83 matches, showcasing their dominance on multiple occasions. On the other hand, India secured triumph in 57 matches, illustrating their competitive spirit. Notably, there have been no tied matches in this intense rivalry, but 10 encounters ended with no result. India vs Australia ODI clashes have consistently provided fans with thrilling moments and cricketing excellence, making it one of the most anticipated and celebrated rivalries in the world of cricket.

In the history of the ODI World Cup, Australia and India have faced each other thirteen times, with Australia holding an 8-5 advantage in their head-to-head record. The most recent encounter at the 2023 World Cup saw India emerging victorious, beating Australia by 6 wickets.

Table: India vs Australia Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far

Predicted XI for India

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

Predicted XI for Australia

Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne/Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Men's ODI Squad Analysis

Indian Players to Watch

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in a World Cup by scoring 711 runs, achieving this feat with a game to spare. Additionally, Kohli has now reached a milestone of 50 ODI centuries. As Virat is in great form, his performance in the final will be crucial.

Mohammed Shami

As it stands, Mohammed Shami has emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, an impressive feat considering he has played in only six matches. Shami's ability to consistently take wickets has undoubtedly contributed to his standout performance in the competition. And his 7 wicket haul in the last match was a record. So, Aussies will need to play Shami carefully in the final.

Rohit Sharma

In the 2023 ICC World Cup, Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India, consistently delivering explosive starts that have frequently placed the team in advantageous positions. Further, he has a good record against Australia, scoring 2332 runs from 44 matches with 209 high scores.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis

Australian Players to Watch

David Warner

In the semi final against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, David Warner reached an impressive achievement. He became the first Australian batsman to score 500 runs in two different ODI World Cup editions. Warner's skill as a left-handed batsman was clear when he accumulated 647 runs in the previous 2019 edition. Now, he joins an elite group, being only the third player to score over 500 runs in two World Cups. He is a reliable batter for big matches. So, he will surely show his skill in the final.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa's performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 has been truly impressive. Despite facing difficulties earlier in the tournament when he gave away 113 runs, Zampa showed flexibility and a champion's mentality. Taking on the responsibility as the sole spinner for Australia, he has claimed 22 wickets, making him the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood delivered an outstanding performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal against South Africa, making a significant impact in the early stage of the match. He played a key role in limiting the strong South African top order by taking the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram. In his eight overs, he conceded only 12 runs, with seven of those runs coming from edges or false shots.

Final Words

India has secured ten victories out of ten matches in the ICC World Cup 2023 so far. The top battle will occur in the top order, where players like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood need to stop Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli from making a strong start. However, even if they manage to do so, the in-form Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul add significant firepower. This offensive capability is supported by a well-rounded Indian bowling attack. So, India has maximum chances to win the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final match against Australia.

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