India
ICC World Cup 2023: Preview of IND vs. AUS ODI
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
Matches
Win
Loss
No Result
21
15
5
1
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
Matches
Win
Loss
No Result
11
5
6
0
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India
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
Team
Appearances in ICC ODI World Cup Tournaments
Total Matches Played in ICC ODI World Cup Tournaments
Total Wins in ICC ODI World Cup Tournaments
Total Lossesin ICC ODI World Cup Tournaments
Tie
No Result
India Team
13 times
84
53
29
1
1
Australia Team
13 times
96
70
24
0
2
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
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
Matches
India Won
Australia Won
No Result
149
56
83
10
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.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Tickets: How to Buy Online, Booking, Prices, Starting Dates and Timings
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.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online
India-Canada diplomatic row: Talks with India ‘in private,’ says Canadian Foreign Minister
Ottawa believes in having a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has said.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Ottawa is not aiming to “escalate” tensions with India. His government has stated that “private” conversations are being held in order to preserve a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India, reports NDTV.
Also read: How India’s relations with Canada hit rock bottom
Trudeau addressed the media after the Financial Times reported that India wants 41 of the 62 Canadian diplomats out of the country after Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil, it said.
According to CBC News, in response to a question on whether Canada will request India to remove diplomats, he stated, “We’re not looking to escalate, as I’ve said, we’re going to be doing the work that matters in continuing to have constructive relations with India through this extremely difficult time.”
Also read: Despite dispute, Canada remains committed to its relationship with India: Trudeau
In a similar vein, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that Ottawa believes in establishing a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India. “We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” she was quoted as saying by Global News, the report said.
“In moments of tensions – because indeed there are tensions between both our governments more than ever – it’s important that diplomats be on the ground, and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India,” she added.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader involved with the Khalistan movement, was killed by masked gunmen in British Columbia in June. The Indian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act labelled the 45-year-old as a “terrorist,” the NDTV report said.
Trudeau accused India of being involved in Nijjar’s death a few weeks ago. “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” he said, adding, “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Also read: India and Canada steer clear, in UN speeches, of their dispute over Sikh separatist leader’s killing
This sparked a diplomatic uproar. The claims were described as “absurd” and “motivated” by India. Following this, both Canada and India removed top ambassadors and issued travel cautions.
Killing of Sikh separatist: India tells Canada to withdraw over 40 diplomatic staff, reports say
The Indian government has asked Canada to withdraw over 40 of its diplomats from the country, the Financial Times has reported.
New Delhi has set a deadline of October 10 for the repatriation, reads the report.
Canada has 62 diplomats in India, and earlier, New Delhi had said the total number should be reduced by 41, the report said.
Read: Despite dispute, Canada remains committed to its relationship with India: Trudeau
India had asked Canada to curtail its diplomatic presence in the country as relations between the two countries plunged to the lowest point following Ottawa's allegations against New Delhi over the killing of a Khalistani separatist on Canadian soil.
Read: Blinken meets Indian foreign minister as row between India and Canada simmers
However, India has outright rejected the claim, calling it absurd.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently said there was a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada.
Read: Intelligence from 'Five Eyes' nations helped Canada link India to Sikh’s killing, US diplomat says
Canada’s interests currently pale in comparison to India’s massive strategic importance: BBC cites experts
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the stage at the House of Commons and made an explosive announcement by accusing “agents of Indian government” of killing a Canadian citizen – a prominent Sikh separatist whom India has accused of terrorism – on Canadian soil.
The accusation, swiftly condemned and denied by New Delhi, has torpedoed the Indo-Canadian diplomatic relationship.
Following Trudeau’s public accusations, the diplomatic confrontation between both countries has reached an all-time high.
Also read: Intelligence from 'Five Eyes' nations helped Canada link India to Sikh’s killing, US diplomat says
As part of the confrontation, the North American country has expelled the “Canadian station chief of India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW),” accusing him of interfering in Ottawa’s “internal affairs.”
Meanwhile, in a tit-for-tat move, India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and later suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals.
Amid these diplomatic measures, one thing is very significant to note that both India and Canada are allies of the United States, or in other words, the West.
India is one of the most significant allies of the US and one of the important frontiers of Washington’s confrontation with Beijing.
Also read: How India’s relations with Canada hit rock bottom
In the midst of such cold geopolitical realities, one might wonder where Justin Trudeau stands on the world stage.
According to the BBC, Trudeau has been facing the cold reality of geopolitics “alone” in the past week.
“In the public eye at least, Trudeau has appeared to be left largely on his own as he goes toe to toe with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with a population 35 times bigger than Canada’s,” BBC reports.
It is worth noting that Canada has received the intelligence regarding New Delhi’s “spy ops” from Five Eyes intelligence alliance – made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Also read: India asks citizens to be careful if traveling to Canada as rift widens over Sikh leader’s death
However, according to BBC, Trudeau’s allies in the intelligence network have provided “seemingly boilerplate public statements, all stopping far short of full-throated support.”
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said his country took “very seriously the things that Canada is saying.” Using nearly identical language, Australia said it was “deeply concerned” by the accusations.
Also read: Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?
Meanwhile, Ottawa’s southern neighbour, the United States, said it expects Delhi to cooperate with Ottawa in investigating the assassination.
Citing experts, BBC noted that Canada’s interests currently pale in comparison to India’s massive strategic importance.
“The US, the UK, and all these Western and Indo-Pacific allies have built a strategy that largely focuses on India, to be a bulwark and counterweight to China. That’s something they can’t afford to toss out the window,” Xavier Delgado, a researcher at the Wilson Centre’s Canada Institute told BBC. “The fact that they haven’t come out and rushed to Canada’s defence is indicative of the geopolitical reality,” he added.
Also read: Canada expels Indian diplomat as it investigates Sikh activist's killing
10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries around the World
In recent years, several earthquakes have devastated different parts of the globe. Earthquakes are caused by sudden movement along tectonic plates within the surface of earth. These movements release energy in the form of seismic waves that cause the earth's surface to shake. These geological events disrupt lives and economies, standing as stark reminders of the need for earthquake preparedness. Let's take a look at the top earthquake-prone countries across the world and understand their vulnerabilities.
The World's 10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries
Japan
Japan occupies a precarious position in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc characterized by fault lines and volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean basin. This is the convergence of four tectonic plates: the Pacific, Philippine, Okhotsk, and Eurasian.
The primary reason behind Japan's seismic vulnerability is the collision and subduction of these tectonic slabs. The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate, creating deep ocean trenches and mountain ranges.
Read more Earthquake Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggered a devastating tsunami, claiming around 19,759 lives. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, measuring magnitude 7, caused about 273 fatalities.
India suspends visa services for Canadians amid diplomatic row
India has suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens "till further notice.”
BLS International — a private service provider hired for initial scrutiny of visa applications — published a notice on its website saying the visa services have been suspended till further notice “due to operational reasons,” reports NDTV.
Also read: How India’s relations with Canada hit rock bottom
This comes as India and Canada are locked in a diplomatic row over Ottawa's claim that it has "credible” evidence linking New Delhi to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist.
Also read: India asks citizens to be careful if traveling to Canada as rift widens over Sikh leader’s death
The Indian foreign ministry has rejected the allegation as "absurd" and "motivated".
It is not yet clear if the suspension of visas is linked to that row, according to NDTV.
Also read: Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?
India expels Canadian diplomat, escalating tensions after Trudeau accuses India in Sikh's killing
India expelled one of Canada’s top diplomats Tuesday, ramping up a confrontation between the two countries over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.
India, which has dismissed the accusations as absurd, said the expulsion came amid “growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," according to a statement from its Ministry of External Affairs.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash Tuesday, telling reporters that Canada is “not looking to provoke or escalate."
Canada expels Indian diplomat as it investigates Sikh activist's killing
“We are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to work with the government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes,” he said. "India and the government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness.”
On Monday, Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India has said Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, has links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied.
What to know about the Sikh movement at the center of the tensions between India and Canada
A U.S. official said Trudeau was in contact with President Joe Biden's administration about Canada’s findings before raising them publicly. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trudeau’s willingness to speak out about the matter was taken by the White House as an indication of the Canadian leader's certainty about what had been found.
Canada has yet to provide any evidence of Indian involvement, but if true it would mark a major shift for India, whose security and intelligence branches have long been significant players in South Asia, and are suspected in a number of killings in Pakistan. But arranging the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada, home to nearly 2 million people of Indian descent, would be unprecedented.
India, though, has accused Canada for years of giving free rein to Sikh separatists, including Nijjar.
The dueling expulsions have escalated tensions between Canada and India. Trudeau had frosty encounters with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this month's Group of 20 meeting in New Delhi, and a few days later Canada canceled a trade mission to India planned for the fall.
India dismisses allegations of killing Sikh activist in Canada as 'absurd', expels senior Canadian diplomat
Nijjar, a plumber, was also a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. A bloody decadelong Sikh insurgency shook north India in the 1970s and 1980s, until it was crushed in a government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders.
Violence spilled across years and continents. In 1984, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by two of her Sikh bodyguards after she ordered an army operation to flush out heavily armed Sikh separatists barricaded inside Sikhism’s holiest shrine. Her killing led to riots that left more than 2,000 Sikhs dead.
The next year, an Air India jetliner flying from Toronto to New Delhi was destroyed by a bomb over the Irish coast, killing 329 people. Officials blamed Sikh separatists.
The Khalistan movement has lost much of its political power but still has supporters in the Indian state of Punjab, as well as in the sizable overseas Sikh diaspora. While the active insurgency ended years ago, the Indian government has warned repeatedly that Sikh separatists were trying to make a comeback.
Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities, who had offered a reward for information leading to his arrest. At the time of his killing he was working with the group Sikhs For Justice, organizing an unofficial Sikh diaspora referendum on independence from India.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer and spokesperson for Sikhs For Justice, has said Nijjar was warned by Canadian intelligence officials about being targeted for assassination by “mercenaries.”
Nijjar had recently been meeting “once or twice a week” with Canadian Security Intelligence Service officers, including a day or two before the shooting, said his son Balraj Singh Nijjar.
He said his father had received hundreds of threatening messages telling him to stop his advocacy for Sikh independence. The threats were always passed to authorities.
“We weren’t worried about safety because we weren’t doing anything wrong," he said. “We were just using freedom of speech.”
He said the family was relieved by Canada's actions.
"From day 1 we kind of had this idea and knowledge that if anything would happen to him, the Indian government would be involved,” he said. “It was just a matter of time for when the truth would come out. It’s finally coming to the public eyes that the Indian government is involved in this.”
On Monday, Trudeau told Parliament that Canadian security agencies were investigating “credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India" and Nijjar's killing.
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” he said.
India’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegation as “absurd” and accused Canada of harboring “terrorists and extremists.”
“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said in a statement Tuesday.
India has long demanded that Canada take action against the Sikh independence movement, which is banned in India. Canada has a Sikh population of more than 770,000, about 2% of its population.
In March, Modi's government summoned the Canadian high commissioner in New Delhi, the top diplomat in the country, to complain about Sikh independence protests in Canada. In 2020, India’s foreign ministry also summoned the top diplomat over Trudeau's comments about an agricultural protest movement associated with the state of Punjab, where many Sikhs live.
Critics accuse Modi’s Hindu nationalist government of seeking to suppress dissent using sedition laws and other legal weapons. Some critics of his administration have been arrested, creating what Modi’s opponents say is a culture of intimidation.
Trudeau said Monday he brought up Nijjar’s slaying with Modi last week at the G20 meeting in New Delhi, and told him any Indian government involvement would be unacceptable and he asked for cooperation in the investigation.
Modi, for his part, expressed “strong concerns” over Canada’s handling of the Sikh independence movement at that meeting, India’s statement said.
While in New Delhi, Trudeau skipped a dinner hosted by the Indian president, and local media reports said he was snubbed by Modi when he got a quick “pull aside” instead of a bilateral meeting.
The statement called on Canada to work with India on what New Delhi said is a threat to the Indian diaspora, and accused the Sikh movement of “promoting secessionism and inciting violence” against Indian diplomats.
Earlier this year, Sikh protesters pulled down the Indian flag at India’s high commission in London and smashed the building’s window after India arrested a popular Sikh preacher. Protesters also smashed windows at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and skirmished with consulate workers.
The British government, meanwhile, said Tuesday there were no plans to reinvestigate the death of a U.K-based Sikh activist in the wake of Canada’s claim India might have been behind the slaying of Nijjar.
Avtar Singh Khanda, who played a prominent role in protests for an independent Sikh homeland, died in June in the English city of Birmingham after falling ill. Supporters alleged be might have been poisoned, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman, Max Blain, said police found nothing suspicious.
The Trudeau government’s allegations are awkward for the U.K., which is a close ally of Canada in the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance that also includes the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, and is also seeking a free trade deal with India.
“These are serious allegations. It is right that the Canadian authorities should be looking into them,” Blain said, adding it would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is underway.
Modi introduces historic bill guaranteeing third of parliament lower house seats for women
The Indian government has put forward a bill ensuring a third of seats for women in the lower house of the parliament and state assemblies.
The bill, which was initially presented in 1996, has been in the works for decades, amidst objections from various political parties, reports BBC.
Also read: Modi opponents boycott opening of new parliament building as PM reshapes India’s power corridor
Its return is likely to bolster the chances of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) luck in national elections next May, it said.
The bill was introduced during the first session of the new Indian parliament, but it is still a long way from becoming law.
It would need the consent of both houses of the parliament and a majority of state legislatures, as well as the signature of the Indian president.
Also read: Silence on Manipur ethnic violence prompts no-confidence vote against Indian PM Modi
The reported proposals to raise the total number of seats might complicate implementation even further, the report said.
Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi lauded the proposed law and said it was a historic occasion for the country in his inauguration speech at the new parliament building.
"The world understands that only talking of women-led development is not enough. This is a positive step taken on that front," he told politicians as he appealed to them to support the bill.
He also took a shot at the opposition, claiming that the past Congress-led administrations had failed to pass the measure while they were in office.
Also read: Hasina, Modi agree to resolve outstanding bilateral issues through talks
"There have been discussions around women's reservations for years. We can say with pride that we have scripted history," he said.
Modi opened the new parliament building in May, but no business has been conducted there until now.
He convened a five-day special session, which began on Monday but was held in the old parliament building on the first day.
Members of the two houses gathered for a picture session in the old building on Tuesday morning, followed by a ceremony commemorating parliament's history in the Central Hall of the British-era structure.
They subsequently relocated to the new parliament, which was formally named as the Parliament House of India by the office of the lower house of parliament.
Asia Cup 2023 Final Preview: India or Sri Lanka — Who Will Win?
Sri Lanka has reached the Asia Cup 2023 final after dramatically knocking out Pakistan on Thursday night. In the exciting final, Sri Lanka will compete against India on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 3:30 pm. The IND vs SL match will be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Preview of IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 Final Match
India secured their spot in the top two by winning a thrilling match against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours. This victory also ended Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the Asia Cup Final 2023. The defending champions, Sri Lanka, managed to defeat Pakistan in a rain-affected Super Fours game, earning their place in the final as well.
However, India’s loss to Bangladesh in the last match of the Super Four Round might reduce their confidence a bit. But, some of the game changers of India, such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav, were on rest to give their best in the final. So, India will surely come back stronger with the top players.
In the last match of the Super Four Round, India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. Bangladesh set a target of 266 runs for India. Chasing a target of 266 runs, India were bowled out for 259 runs with 1 ball to spare. They needed 12 runs in the last over with 1 wicket in hand. But they could not reach the target. Bangladesh beat India by 6 runs on Friday at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, secured the final by beating Pakistan in their last Super Four Round match. Sri Lanka won the breathtaking ODI match in the last ball. Because of rain, the game was shortened to 42 overs. Pakistan batted first and managed to score 252 runs while losing 7 wickets. In reply, Sri Lanka reached victory by losing 8 wickets.
Now, the defending champions and India are waiting for Sunday’s final. So far in this tournament, India lost one match, and that was against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Sri Lanka lost one match against India in the Super Four. It is expected that both teams will join the final with their best players, as there is no injury report.
Read more: Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India
Predicted XI for India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Predicted XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana.
India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final Head to Head
This is not the first time that India and Sri Lanka are meeting in the Asia Cup Final. Previously, they met 7 times in the final in 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2010. Among these seven appearances, India won four times in 1988, 1990-91, 1995, and 2010. Sri Lanka won three times in 1997, 2004 and 2008.
India vs Sri Lanka Overall ODI Head to Head
In ODI cricket, India and Sri Lanka have played against each other 166 times. Out of these 166 matches, India has won 97 times, while Sri Lanka has won 57 times. There were 11 matches that didn’t have a clear result, and 1 match ended in a tie.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Key Indian Players to Watch in Asia Cup Final 2023
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has been consistent throughout this Asia Cup and finally got his desired century against Bangladesh. He scored 121 runs from 133 balls in a critical situation for India. This week, Indian opener Shubman Gill has moved up two spots to reach the second position in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings for batters. He earned this recognition for his outstanding batting performance during the Asia Cup 2023. Shubman scored 275 runs in five innings with an impressive average of 68.75. This includes two half-centuries and one century in his name. So, India will greatly depend on his batting knock in the Final.
KL Rahul
Rahul made a comeback to the Indian team after being sidelined for almost three months due to multiple injuries. After his return, he scored a century in his first appearance in the Asia Cup against Pakistan in Super Four. After that, Rahul scored 39 runs against Sri Lanka and 19 runs against Bangladesh. It seems the long absence from the field did not hamper his performance, and he came back stronger. So, we may see a better performance this time against Sri Lanka.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep was the top bowler against Sri Lanka in the last match. He took four wickets with a 4.52 economy rate. Seemingly, his bowl worked better at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, as he also took five wickets at the same venue against Pakistan. Since the final will be at the same venue, we may see another brilliant performance from Kuldeep.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch in Asia Cup Final 2023
Kusal Mendis
Kusal has scored 253 runs from five innings in this Asia Cup and has two centuries and a half century. However, Kusal scored 15 runs against India in the Super Four round match. So, this time, Kusal should be looking to put his best in the final. Moreover, he is also incredible in wicketkeeping, as he took 8 catches.
Sadeera Samarwickrama
Sadeera Samarwickrama is currently the third highest run-scorer in the tournament, with a total of 215 runs in five innings. However, in the match against India, he only scored 17 runs. So, Sadeera is surely looking for a great knock in the final. Overall, Sadeera has played in 22 matches and has scored a total of 615 runs. His highest score is 93, which came against Bangladesh in this Asia Cup. He has an impressive strike rate of 90.57 in this tournament.
Matheesha Pathirana
This 20 year old wonder is the top wicket taker in this Asia Cup. So far, he took 11 wickets. He got at least one wicket in each match of the tournament except against India. In his appearance against India, Matheesha bowled 4 overs with a 7.75 econ rate, which resembles an average performance from him. He might be looking for a better performance in the final and remain the top wicket takers.
Read more: Bangladesh's probable squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
Final Words
India seems to have an advantage over Sri Lanka on paper because they have a stronger team with better players. However, India should not underestimate Sri Lanka as in the previous encounter in the Super Four stage of the tournament, India were very close to losing against the Lankans. While both teams are strong contenders, India still has a better chance to win the IND vs SL Asia Cup Final 2023.
Read more: Bangladesh beat India in Asia Cup after 11 years
Preview of India vs Bangladesh ODI in Asia Cup 2023
The 2023 Asia Cup is approaching the final, with the last match of the Super Four stage between India and Bangladesh. While India was dominant throughout the tournament, Bangladesh is eager to conclude their continental campaign with a big win. This highly anticipated IND vs BAN clash is set for this Friday, September 15, 2023, at 3:30 PM at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Preview of IND vs BAN ODI in Asia Cup 2023
Since this game won’t affect the trophy race, and the Indian team will have only one day of rest before the finals, it’s likely that the Indian team management will opt to rest some key players.
Shreyas Iyer, who was sidelined in India’s last two matches due to a back spasm, is anticipated to be fit for this upcoming game. Meanwhile, the experienced fast bowler Mohammad Shami may step in for Jasprit Bumrah to ensure Bumrah’s fitness for the crucial final match.
The head coach of the Tigers, Chandika Hathurusingha, had previously announced that there would be no team practice during a three-day break from September 10 to the 13. Two key Bangladeshi players, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim, have temporarily left the squad to attend to family matters in Dhaka. While Shakib will join the squad, Mushfiqur Rahim will be absent from the Asia Cup Super Four match against India on Friday. Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted him an extension of leave to be with his newborn child and family.
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Bangladesh’s performance in the Super Four stage has fallen short of the high expectations of their fans. Unfortunately, they have been eliminated from the tournament. The dreams of achieving their first continental championship have diminished for skipper Shakib Al Hassan’s team, especially after suffering losses in their first two Super Four matches.
Their big 89-run victory over Afghanistan in the group stage, which secured their place in the Super Four, stands as their sole triumph in this tournament. The Tigers are now hoping for a positive result in their final Super Four match before they prepare to host New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on September 21. In the other two Super Four matches, Sri Lanka won over Bangladesh by 21 runs, and Pakistan won by 7 wickets.
On the other hand, India is approaching their final Super Four match as the only team in the tournament that remains undefeated. The Men in Blue delivered an impressive 228-run victory over their arch-rivals, Pakistan, during the Super Four stage. They followed this up with a successful defense of 213 runs against Sri Lanka, which they won by 41 runs.
Despite not being able to complete a full 100-over game in the group stages, the seven-time Asian champions have now played on the R. Premadasa Stadium field for three consecutive days. They are now looking forward to a brief break before stepping onto the field against Bangladesh.
Read more: Mushfiqur Rahim to Miss Super Four Clash Against India
Predicted XIs for India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj.
Predicted XIs for Bangladesh
Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed.
IND vs BAN Head to Head ODI Matches So Far
Despite a strong effort from the Bangladesh team, India has consistently held the upper hand in this rivalry. The Men in Blue maintain a commanding lead in the head-to-head record, with an impressive 31 victories out of 39 encounters, while the Bangladesh Tigers have managed to secure victory only seven times thus far. One match had no result.
Read more: Wellalage’s all-round show in vain as India clinch low-scoring affair vs Sri Lanka
Key Indian Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma
The 36-year-old Indian captain is presently at the top of the run-scoring leaderboard, scoring 194 runs at an impressive average of 64.66. In his latest match against Sri Lanka, he reached the significant milestone of 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. Although he has scored half-centuries three times in this tournament, Rohit has not yet managed to score his first century. He will be eager to achieve this milestone in the remaining two innings before the tournament concludes.
Virat Kohli
In his remarkable innings against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, Kohli surpassed the milestone of 13,000 runs in ODI, becoming the fifth player in men’s ODIs to achieve this remarkable feat. However, he scored only three runs in the next match against Sri Lanka. But his excellent batting against Pakistan resembled his comeback. So, Kohli might repeat that performance against the Tigers.
KL Rahul
Indian batsman K.L. Rahul achieved a century during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Pakistan at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Monday. He returned to the Indian side after a nearly three-month absence due to multiple injuries and reached the century mark by hitting a double off Naseem Shah’s delivery. So, Rahul will be looking for another good score in the next match to make his position permanent in the team. Overall, KL Rahul played 56 matches for India and scored 2136 runs, which includes 6 centuries.
Read more: India clinch historic victory against Pakistan by a staggering 228-run margin
Key Bangladeshi Players to Watch
Taskin Ahmed
Bangladeshi captain will assign crucial responsibility to Taskin, aiming to stop the star-studded Indian top-order, which has been dominating pacers throughout this ongoing competition. Taskin Ahmed shares the distinction of being the highest wicket-taker in Asia Cup 2023, having taken nine wickets from four innings. The 28-year-old fast bowler played a pivotal role in their victory over Afghanistan, recording impressive bowling figures of 4 for 44 in 8.3 overs. He is expected to be a key factor in the success of the Bangladesh team.
Shakib Al Hasan
Captain Shakib Al Hasan is yet to give his best performance in this Asia Cup 2023. However, he played his role well as the captain. But overall, his batting and bowling performance has been dimmed recently. So, fans can expect one last performance before returning to home. So far, he scored 93 runs and grabbed 2 wickets in this Asia Cup.
Towhid Hridoy
Towhid failed to contribute to Bangladesh greatly in the first three matches of the Asia Cup 2023. In the first match, he scored 21 runs off 41 balls without any boundaries. In the next match against Afghanistan in Lahore, Bangladesh won by 89 runs, but he scored a zero. He also got out in a single-digit against Pakistan in the Super Four. However, Towhind knocked a brilliant batting performance in the last match against Sri Lanka, scoring 82 runs off 97 balls. So, we can expect another knock in the next match.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Final Words
Considering the match results so far in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 ODI tournament, it can be said that team India is favorite in the contest.
However, nothing is impossible in cricket. To secure their first Super Four stage victory, Bangladesh need to show outstanding performances in all sectors including batting, bowling and fielding.
Bangladesh team should follow team Sri Lanka’s strategy to give a good fight, as they are the only team in this Asia Cup who gave an excellent fight against India. But, considering the team India’s performance, they have full potential to win the IND vs BAN Super Four Round match.
Read more: Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India