ICC ODI World Cup 2023: The moment of anticipation is drawing near as India, the host nation, prepares to commence their journey in the ICC World Cup 2023 against Australia at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium this Sunday. This encounter marks the 13th ODI World Cup clash between these two teams, with Australia holding an 8-4 advantage in their head-to-head record, including a victory over India at this very venue during the 1987 World Cup’s league stage. As we approach this crucial match, the spotlight falls on several key players from both sides who have the potential to shape the outcome in their team’s favour on Sunday.
Five key IND vs AUS player battles to look out for
1. Virat Kohli vs Adam Zampa
The head-to-head clash between Virat Kohli and Adam Zampa has garnered significant attention in India vs. Australia matchups over the years. There was a period when the Australian leg-spinner seemed to have Kohli’s number, both in international cricket and the Indian Premier League. Nevertheless, Kohli has staged a comeback in some of the more recent encounters, coinciding with the former Indian captain’s return to form.
In international cricket, Zampa has dismissed Kohli a total of eight times, with five of those dismissals occurring in ODIs. Kohli, in contrast, has been in excellent form recently, notably recording a century in the recent Asia Cup against Pakistan.
2. Siraj vs Warner
This sets the stage for an intriguing battle at the start of the innings. Siraj has notably improved his bowling skills in various formats over the past two years, amassing an impressive record of 32 wickets in Powerplay overs at an average of 15.88 since 2022. On the other hand, Warner, who has sometimes struggled against the new ball, particularly when bowlers come around the wicket, possesses the skill to use swing and find openings through the offside. His performance could be pivotal in getting Australia off to a brisk start and establishing the tempo for the rest of the innings.
3. Mitchell Starc vs Top Order
Mitchell Starc played a crucial role in Australia’s 2-1 series victory over India in the first of two three-match ODI series, which occurred immediately after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and just before the Indian Premier League (IPL). Starc’s performance was notable as he initially contributed with figures of 3/49, giving Australia hope of defending a modest total of 188 in the first one-day match. However, KL Rahul’s unbeaten 75 thwarted the Aussies’ plans. In the subsequent game, Starc delivered an impressive performance with 5/53, leading to India’s dismissal for 117 and securing a commanding 10-wicket victory for Australia.
4. Glenn Maxwell vs Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has emerged as India’s top ODI bowler this year, claiming 33 wickets, the most among bowlers from Full Nations and second only to Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane in the broader list. On the other hand, Glenn Maxwell possesses the ability to become an unstoppable force in the middle overs once he settles at the crease and finds his rhythm, often delivering match-winning innings that make a significant impact.
5. Ashwin vs Smith
Steve Smith held the reputation of being an exceptionally challenging batsman to dismiss in international cricket for an extended period. However, in 2020, R Ashwin meticulously studied numerous videos of Smith’s batting and formulated a strategy for the Australia tour, which was executed with impressive precision, resulting in Ashwin dismissing Smith three times in three Tests.
This Sunday, the duel between these two contemporary cricketing greats could reignite, albeit in the ODI format, potentially becoming a pivotal phase of the innings. A victory for either Ashwin or Smith in this battle could have a significant impact on their respective teams’ chances of winning the match.
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