India vs Australia. (Source – Getty Images)
India are in a slightly easier position, but will not want to take Australia lightly when the two teams clash in their last respective Super 8 matches. Australia will have to win this match to qualify for the semifinals, but India are not obligated to.
Australia find themselves in this rough position after losing to Afghanistan. Ashton Agar started well by constricting both openers Ramanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran who got sedate fifties. Adam Zampa triggered a mini-collapse, and as Afghanistan looked to fight back, Pat Cummins’ second hattrick in as many matches slowed Afghanistan down even further. Australia didn’t start the chase well, having a top-order collapse themselves courtesy of Naveen-ul-Haq. Glenn Maxwell set out to bring his team out of the woodwork with a fifty, but Gulbadin Naib got Australia to collapse again and led his team to a win.
India had an easier time against Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli started aggressively, but after the former’s dismissal, Rishabh Pant took over with a cameo of his own. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube then set up a partnership that took India to 196 with the former getting a fifty. Liton Das started well in the first over, but his dismissal opened up the floodgates. While Jasprit Bumrah was at his miserly best, it was Kuldeep Yadav whose middle overs barrage triggered a Bangladesh collapse that didn’t see them recover. Rishad Hossain tried to fight with some lusty blows but it was too little, too late.
Daren Sammy Stadium Pitch Report:
Gros Islet has been the best batting surface by far in this World Cup. Another run-fest can be expected in this encounter as well, given that this will be the last match here.
Also Check: Australia’s strongest predicted playing XI against India
T20I Stats and Records at Daren Sammy Stadium:
The average first innings total is 165. And 12 out of 23 matches here have been won by the team batting first.
Matches Won Batting First- 12
Matches Won Batting Second- 11
Tied Matches- 00
Matches With No Result- 00
Highest Team Total- 218/5
Lowest Team Total- 105
Highest Total Successfully Chased- 192
Lowest Total Successfully Defended- 146
Average First Innings Total- 165
India vs Australia Strategies & Match-ups:
Australia’s batting hasn’t fully come into their own as a team yet. And India have been possibly the best bowling lineup of this World Cup. Australia’s lack of cohesion while batting is the only real weakness in their team that India could potentially exploit. India are also yet to gel as a batting unit, but they showed signs that the little contributions are the ones they want to make.
The important matchups are Arshdeep Singh vs Travis Head, Kuldeep Yadav vs Marcus Stoinis, Ravindra Jadeja vs Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc vs Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma vs Pat Cummins.
Also Check: AUS vs IND Stats Preview – Players approaching milestones, stats, and records
Player Battles to Watch Out For:
Glenn Maxwell vs Axar Patel
In 25 balls, Maxwell has only managed 30 runs against the Southpaw in T20Is. At an average of 15 and a strike rate of 120, Maxwell has been dismissed twice.
Virat Kohli vs Adam Zampa
In 74 balls, Kohil has made 90 runs at a strike rate of 121.62 in this format. he has been dismissed thrice at an average of 30 as well. This might be one of the sternest tests that Virat Kohli will face after having worked on his spin game.
X-Factors for India vs Australia:
India:
On a batter’s surface, it is expected that the batters rule the roost. Virat Kohli has the most runs against Australia in T20Is and he will be itching to improve that record.
Australia:
Similarly, the important player for Australia is Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell found some long-awaited runs in the previous match, and his good record against India will spur him on to hopefully give another performance like that.