India, Australia start on an equal footing and it will all boil down to which team are able to control their emotions better and execute plans more professionally in today’s final
India skipper Rohit Sharma and Australia captain Pat Cummins pose with the World Cup Trophy at Adalaj, Gujarat, on Saturday. Pics/Getty Images
The Narendra Modi Stadium was a beehive of activity on Saturday as the finishing touches were being given ahead of Sunday’s festival of joy. Rehearsals were the order of the day; rehearsal for an airshow that will kick off World Cup finals day, rehearsal for the closing ceremony planned in phases during the game.
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That Chennai win
The on-field dress rehearsal for the final itself took place six weeks back, in Chennai on October 8 when India bounced back from the depths of three wickets down for two runs to hunt down Australia’s 199 with plenty to spare. That was the start of a blazing trail that has netted Rohit Sharma’s men 10 wins in a row. Australia aren’t too far behind, stacking up eight successive victories after an uncharacteristically slow start when they surrendered their first two encounters.
Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023: A look at India's performances in finals of Cricket World Cup
Australia have made it a habit of reaching the finals of ODI World Cups. This is their eighth entry into the title round, where they have triumphed five times. India are in their fourth final and their first since Mahendra Singh Dhoni hauled them to the crown in 2011. All of these are interesting footnotes which will have no bearing on the events of the morrow. It will all boil down to which of the teams are able to control its emotions better and execute its plans more professionally. On the evidence of the fare dished out so far, Pat Cummins’s men and India start on an equal footing on that front.
Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023 | IND vs AUS: Most five-wickets in an innings
India have used the first Powerplay to devastating effect, imposing themselves on all-comers. Rohit with the bat and their bouquet of pacers have done the early running, putting daylight between themselves and their opponents and making life easier for those following them into the cauldron of battle. Australia’s twin challenges will be to prevent the Indian captain from reprising his attacking heroics—he strikes at 133 inside the first 10 overs—and ensuring there is no early success for Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. That’s easier said than done, especially in front of nearly 1,30,000 passionate supporters who will make no bones of which side they are rooting for.
On the eve of the contest, Rohit spoke of the need to strike a balance between being calm and being geed up for the occasion. No one exemplifies that better than the admirable leader. Most teams assume the character of their skipper, which is why on the eve of the biggest match of their respective careers, coolness and an unwavering focus on the ultimate goal were the overriding themes within the Indian camp.
Rohit repeats himself
“It will be nice to win the World Cup,” Rohit had said ahead of the Chennai skirmish. It’s a line he repeated on Saturday evening, choosing not to get too far ahead of himself. What do the cricketing gods have in store for him?
03
No. of times India have entered ODI World Cup final prior to today’s encounter. They won twice
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