Background
The most prestigious cricketing tournament has finally reached its end. The grand finale of ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 is set to take place on November 19, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India and Australia stand at the forefront, ready to battle it out for the ultimate prize.
India has been impeccable throughout the tournament, winning all of their matches. Simultaneously, Australia has also had an impressive campaign, triumphing over 8 different opponents consecutively.
Out of 13 encounters, Australia has been victorious on 8 occasions, but India has secured victory in three of the last four meetings. Both these teams also met in the 2003 World Cup Final, where Australia won and Destiny rewrites that tale again two decades later.
Team Preview
India
The hosts stand as the clear favourite’s in this tournament. Their 9-0 run through the group stage laid the foundation for a compelling campaign, and in the semi-final clash against New Zealand, they comfortably managed to win with a margin of 70 runs.
While batting first, all top 5 batters fired, with Kohli and Iyer crafting centuries, leading India to a monumental total of 397 in the semi-final. The bowling contingent, led by Shami’s exceptional performance 7-57, took charge, dismissing the Kiwis for 327 and securing the victory.
The entire squad is in top form, with each player displaying exceptional numbers throughout the world cup. As they stand on the brink of the final, India is driven by the desire to conclude this fairy tale journey with a prestigious World Cup victory. The hunger to end a decade-long ICC trophy drought adds an extra layer of motivation.
Australia
Australia’s journey in the ICC World Cup has been nothing short of a remarkable turnaround. Overcoming initial setbacks with two defeats, they instrumented a powerful comeback, claiming victories in their next eight encounters to finish the round games 3rd on the ladder with 7 wins and 2 losses.
The pinnacle of their revival came in a close semi-final clash against South Africa, where their bowlers shone, restricting the Proteas to 212. The openers provided an explosive start in the chase, and despite a close contest, the tailenders held firm, securing a crucial three-wicket win.
Now, with their sights set on a sixth World Cup title, Australia aims to reaffirm their status as the perennial rulers of ICC tournaments across generations. The prospect of this victory would set them apart by miles in this format. However, the path to glory is no cakewalk, with the Indian team standing in their way, intensifying the challenge.
Match Prediction
My heart wants to say that Australia wins, however, India is just a class above and will triumph in front of their home fans in a crowd north of 130,000. It will be an absolute experience for all involved. C’mon the Aussies!
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