ODI World Cup Final 2023: India vs Australia World Cup Final – Top player battles to watch out for

Virat Kohli and Adam Zampa. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

India and Australia will clash in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 mega showdown. This encounter will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19, 2023. This is the second time India will play Australia in a CWC final after 2003.

India came into this final undefeated, winning all the league matches and then beating New Zealand in the semi-final, which was played in Mumbai. They defeated Australia as well, in their first match of the World Cup in Chennai.

Australia, on the other hand, began with two losses in their first two matches of the CWC to India and South Africa. But then they peaked at the right time, winning their remaining 7 games and then defeating South Africa in the semi-final in Kolkata. 

But they haven’t gotten a dominating win in any of the games, while India has steamrolled their opponents in all the 10 matches this far.

Consequently, players from both sides will be eager to outdo each other and hence we take a look at some player battles for the IND v AUS final.

Here are the Top player battles to watch out for in ODI World Cup 2023 Final:

6. Rohit Sharma v Mitchell Starc

Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Starc. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Mitchell Starc was instrumental in Australia’s win in the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final against South Africa, as he and Josh Hazlewood reduced Proteas to 24/4, within the first 15 overs. Starc then partnered Pat Cummins to take Australia to the win as well. 

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has been giving India flying starts, sacrificing his milestones. But still has more than 500 runs with one century and a couple of fifties to his name.

The last time he played in Ahmedabad against Pakistan, he made 86 runs in a grand style. Facing Starc would be a huge deal for Rohit as in the 12 ODI innings they have faced off, the India captain has made 146 runs in 141 balls, hitting 13 fours and 6 sixes. Starc has only managed to get Rohit out thrice in the same period.

5. Virat Kohli v Adam Zampa

Virat Kohli and Adam Zampa. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

While Virat Kohli is in superb form with the bat in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, he has a glaring weakness that Australia might exploit early on in his innings. Kohli has scored 711 runs, with 3 centuries and 5 fifties in the ODI World Cup. He also completed 50 ODI centuries in the semi-final vs. New Zealand. But the chink in his armour is facing leg-spinners who can turn the ball big. Adam Zampa is a bowler who has troubled him in recent times.

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

Zampa has done well in this World Cup, as he has 22 wickets with a best of 4/8 and an economy of 5.47. Facing each other in 13 ODIs, Kohli has made 254 runs, hitting 20 fours and 3 sixes. He averages 50.80 against Zampa with a strike rate of 109.48. But Zampa has also dismissed him 5 times in ODIs, giving this player battle some spice.

4. KL Rahul v Adam Zampa

KL Rahul and Adam Zampa. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

KL Rahul in the middle order has been a boon for India in the ongoing 50-over World Cup. The last time India played Australia in this CWC 2023, he made 97* and along with Virat Kohli, had helped India win the match from being 3 wickets down for almost no score. He has been wonderful with 386 runs at a strike rate of almost 99. 

Adam Zampa has been by far the best bowler from Australia.

Notably, the willy leggie has bagged 22 wickets sp far, with best figures of 4/8 and an economy of 5.47. However, he went wicketless on a turning wicket in Kolkata in the semi-final against Australia. But he has dismissed KL Rahul four times in the 11 innings they have faced off.

KL Rahul has scored 133 runs in 138 balls against Zampa with 8 fours and 3 sixes. This makes the player battle between them a must-watch. 

3. Mohammed Shami v David Warner

Mohammed Shami and David Warner. (Photo Souce: X(Twitter)

Mohammed Shami has been on fire in this ODI World Cup. He has the bowling figures in this tournament of 7/57 and has taken 23 wickets in only 6 matches. He has 3 fifers in this tournament alone and overall 4, making him the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls in World Cup history. 

David Warner, probably playing his final World Cup event at 37, has scored 491 runs in 10 matches with 2 centuries and 2 fifties with a best of 163.

However, his record against Mohammed Shami is not very good.

Warner has scored 103 runs in 117 balls he has faced from Shami in 10 ODIs. He has hit 15 fours, but his strike rate is only 88. On the other hand, Shami has dismissed him 3 times giving him the upper hand in this player battle. 

2. Glenn Maxwell v Kuldeep Yadav

Glenn Maxwell and Kuldeep Yadav. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Glenn Maxwell played the knock of the World Cup 2023 when he single-handedly won the game for his side against Afghanistan with 201*. Otherwise, Maxwell has hit 398 runs with 2 centuries with a strike rate of 150. However, he has a weakness against leg spin, especially left-arm wrist spin, as he fell to Tabraiz Shamsi in the semi-final.

Interestingly enough, before that, a similar bowling style in the form of Kuldeep Yadav had his number pretty much every time the two sides clashed in ODIs. 

In 11 ODIs, Kuldeep Yadav has dismissed Maxwell thrice. Maxwell has scored 99 runs in 69 balls with 9 sixes and 5 fours off Kuldeep. So this battle is a bit equal but crucial in the final.

1. Virat Kohli v Josh Hazlewood

Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Virat Kohli is reigning supreme at the helm with 711 runs, 3 centuries, and 5 fifties in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. He scored his historic 50th ODI ton in the semi-final against New Zealand. Moreover, Kohli was also the one who shouldered India’s win over Australia in the league stage, in Chennai, when India had lost three wickets for almost nothing.

His nemesis from the Australian side is Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli 5 times in 8 innings, while Kohli only scored 51 runs in 88 balls. This will be the top-player battle in the final.

Also Check: List of Virat Kohli international & IPL centuries