The focus in the Cricket World Cup will now shift to tournament hosts India, who play their first match against Australia on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India recently defeated Australia 2-1 at home, but they can’t take that victory too seriously as the Aussies weren’t at full strength.
The five-time world champions seem to always be at their best in world cups and will come hard at the hosts. We are sure in for a cracker of a contest, and there’s no one side that can be termed outright favorite for this face-off.
THE VENUE FOR INDIA-AUSTRALIA MATCH
The pitch will be good for batting early on, but as the game progresses, spinners will come into play. Seamers will get help from the wicket in the initial few overs. If they can vary their pace when the ball is stopping on the surface, batters might struggle.
Average 1st Innings Score: 224
Average 2nd Innings Score: 205
TEAM PREVIEW
INDIA
India comes into the tournament with strong momentum, having secured victories in both the Asia Cup and the bilateral series against Australia. Although they boast an impressive overall balance, there are still two areas of concern: their batting lineup leans heavily towards right-handed players, and their tail-end batting is extended, compelling them to include a less potent bowler at the No. 8 position to grant freedom to the top seven.
A top-order featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, epitomizes class and stability, particularly when it comes to handling high-pressure situations. Their collective responsibility will be crucial during those pivotal moments, and they will receive valuable support from accomplished right-handers like KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Shreyas Iyer.
Team India received a big blow as reportedly Shubman Gill has dengue which will definitely rule out him from the opening match. Ishan Kishan would open in place of him.
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will look after the all round duties. Hardik Pandya particularly is considered as an X-Factor of this Indian side as fans expect him to do something similar to What Yuvraj Singh did in 2011. Also his record at Chepauk Stadium is very very good be it bowling or batting and coincidentally those performances have came against Australia.
India’s bowling lineup boasts three fearless first-choice fast bowlers. The return of Jasprit Bumrah has injected a lethal edge to this attack. Bumrah, now back in full fitness, looked menacing during his brief appearances in Sri Lanka. With Mohammed Siraj’s ability to extract seam and swing early on and a revitalized Kuldeep Yadav looking better with each game, they will pose a formidable challenge to Australia’s batters.
Ravichandran Ashwin will also be a great addition to the bowling department as he will bring a lot of experience in the bowling as well and he can score runs with his batting too. Furthermore, Hardik Pandya is steadily contributing valuable overs in every game.
EXPECTED XI OF INDIA v AUSTRALIA
Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
AUSTRALIA
Australia has a storied history in the ODI World Cup, with an impressive five-time championship. Nevertheless, their recent performance has been marked by inconsistency. They kicked off their September campaign by claiming a 2-0 lead in South Africa, only for the home side to rally with three consecutive wins, ultimately clinching the series. Subsequently, Australia faced two comprehensive defeats against India before finally securing a consolation victory in the third and final ODI at Rajkot.
Australia’s batting form has been exceptional in recent times, particularly with the rise of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. However, Head’s ongoing injury raises worries, as his absence during the tournament would be sorely felt. Nevertheless, their batting prowess remains fearsome, with Marsh and David Warner at the top, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne holding the middle ground, and Maxwell, Alex Carey, Green, and the lower-order batsmen adding the finishing touches. It’s a truly remarkable batting lineup. What’s more, they are well used to the Indian conditions now, courtesy of the IPL.
On the bowling front, watch out for Mitchell Starc. The left-arm speedster boasts an exceptional World Cup track record, standing as the leading wicket-taker in 2019 and sharing that distinction with Trent Boult in 2015. Australia’s recent struggles to make breakthroughs in the early overs have exposed them in the latter stages of contests.
Starc’s ability to exploit the initial overs when the white ball swings makes him a valuable asset. Moreover, his ability to take vital wickets during the middle overs and serve as an effective option in the death overs significantly bolsters Australia’s chances.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are likely to trouble the Indian batters when the ball is new. However, once it becomes softer, they might go for runs against this strong unit. Adam Zampa has undoubtedly been Australia’s standout bowler since the last World Cup. However, his performance can be inconsistent, and on off days, Australia may require another spinner, possibly Maxwell, to rise to the occasion.
EXPECTED XI OF AUSTRALIA v INDIA
Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
PREDICTION FOR THE MATCH
On paper, India looks more balanced overall, while Australia’s bowling seems to lack that X-factor. This should be a closely contested match, but the home side is likely to come out on top.
Match Prediction: India to Beat Australia and Start their Campaign In Great Style