India and Australia will kick off their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8, 2023. This highly anticipated encounter marks the fifth match of the tournament and is scheduled to take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday at 2:30 PM Bangladesh time.

Preview of IND vs. AUS ODI in ICC World Cup 2023

India enters the match with a boost in confidence, having recently secured a 2-1 victory over Australia in a three-match ODI series that took place from 22-27 September 2023. However, their journey in the World Cup opener might face challenges, particularly with the absence of Shubman Gill, who is sidelined due to dengue fever. The opening slot may see Ishan Kishan stepping in as a replacement. The spin-friendly conditions are expected to play a crucial role, with the inclusion of spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja showcasing India's formidable strength in that department.

The Indian cricket team has been in outstanding form recently, holding the top-ranking position in all three formats as per the latest ICC rankings. Throughout this year, they have demonstrated their prowess by losing only 5 out of the 21 completed matches and one match outcome with no result. Victories against New Zealand, West Indies, and Australia, along with a triumphant Asia Cup campaign, emphasize their dominance.

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

Table: India's performance in ODI matches in 2023 So far

Although both of India's warm-up matches were affected by rain, it doesn't pose a significant concern for the team. The silver lining is that the players benefited from a well-deserved break, ensuring they will be rejuvenated when facing one of the tough opponents of this World Cup, Australia. A notable aspect of India's recent success is the balanced contributions from nearly all players, reflecting the team's collective strength.

On the other hand, Australia aims to put their past struggles with spin behind them, backing on their tough top-order batting. Players such as Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Steve Smith, who have shown proficiency against spin recently, are expected to adopt an aggressive approach at the start. Despite facing challenges in the series against India and South Africa, Australia remains fearless. The inclusion of Adam Zampa adds a strategic advantage, as he has consistently delivered strong performances for the Aussies in spin-friendly conditions, making him a key asset for the team in the upcoming match.

Australia's abundance of all-round talent adds a significant element of danger to their lineup. Players like Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, or Marnus Labuschagne possess the capability to offer substantial support to Adam Zampa, particularly in the conditions at Chennai. The team's batting depth is equally impressive, extending down to the lower order, with genuine batting talent continuing even beyond the eighth or ninth position.

However, Australia has faced a challenging period recently, having a 5-match losing streak—one of the team's lengthiest in recent history. However, a glimmer of optimism emerged as they secured a victory in their last international fixture against India and triumphed over Pakistan in a warm-up match. These wins are likely to inject a sense of regained confidence into the team. Nevertheless, this year, Australia played 11 ODI matches and won five of them and lost 6 games.

Table: Australia’s performance in ODI matches in 2023 So far

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India and Australia Stats in ICC ODI World Cups So far

India has participated in a total of 13 ICC World Cups, including the ongoing 2023 tournament. Their performances were particularly noteworthy in 1983 and 2011 as they won the World Cup. In 1987, 1996, 2015, and 2019, India progressed to the semi-finals, while in 2003, they became the runner-up. However, their journey ended in the group stage in 1975, 1979 and 2007.

Australia also appeared in 13 World Cups and is the most successful team in the World. They won the World Cup five times and became runner-up twice.

Table: India and Australia Stats in ICC ODI World Cups

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

In the ODI format, India and Australia have contested each other in a total of 149 matches. Out of these, India secured victory in 56 games, while Australia emerged triumphant in 83 encounters. Additionally, 10 matches concluded without a no result.

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

Probable India XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Probable Australia XI

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood.

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

Indian Players to Watch

Virat Kohli

The former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, is gearing up to participate in his fourth ICC 50-over World Cup for India. Kohli has an impressive record against Australia, amassing a total of 2228 runs in 45 innings, featuring 8 centuries and 12 scores of fifty or more.

Rohit Sharma

While Rohit may not wield the bat as an unstoppable force as he did four years ago, when he notched a record-breaking five centuries at the 2019 World Cup, Rohit Sharma continues to exhibit mastery in the 50-over format. His unrivaled record for India, having an average of 48.85 with a strike rate of 90.52, shows his aggressiveness and importance to the team.

Hardik Pandya

He is one of the most dynamic all-rounder whose prowess cannot be ignored, making significant contributions with both the bat and ball during crucial moments. So far, Pandya played 82 matches for India, scored 1758 runs, and grabbed 79 wickets.

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Australian Players to Watch

Adam Zampa

The Chepauk pitch traditionally tends to heavily favor spinners, and Indian batsmen have often faced challenges against high-quality spin bowling on this ground. In 2023, Adam Zampa, a right-arm leg-spinner, showcased an impressive bowling display by claiming 15 wickets in 9 matches. This performance made him the leading wicket-taker among Australian bowlers in the calendar year.

David Warner

David Warner is in the twilight of his international career, concluding an illustrious tenure that, despite moments of controversy, undeniably boasts an outstanding record. Having played 25 ODIs against India, David Warner holds an impressive average of 51.04, marked by two centuries and four half-centuries. The 36-year-old cricketer enters the opening match of the tournament with both the form and a track record that suggest he is well-equipped to thrive in the challenging conditions.

Mitchell Starc

The tall left-arm paceman's role in the white-ball formats revolves around delivering full-length deliveries, targeting the stumps, and generating late swings, particularly during the powerplays. One of his crucial early breakthroughs for Australia was the crucial wicket of Brendon McCullum, secured with the third ball of the 2015 World Cup final. His impactful performance continued throughout the tournament, culminating in him being named the player of the tournament with 22 wickets when Australia claimed the title on home soil eight years ago. So, he might show his tremendous performance one more time.

Final Words

Assessing the present form, India holds an advantage over Australia and could initiate their World Cup journey with a victory. The performance of India's top order is crucial, especially considering the threat posed by Starc, who recently achieved a hat trick in a warm-up match.

The challenging conditions of spin and humidity at Chepauk may pose difficulties for Australian batters. Hence, India has a competitive edge in the IND vs AUS World Cup 2023 match.

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