India vs Australia: Win the power play, win the World Cup?

The two fastest scoring teams in the powerplay, which are also the stingiest bowling teams in the powerplay, made it to the final of the 2023 World Cup. As we had anticipated in the start of the tournament , it has been a World Cup for pioneers. India have been better than Australia in the first ten overs (scoring 6.87 per over to Australia’s 6.55, conceding 4.34 per over to Australia’s 4.75), which is part of the reason they are starting the final as favorites. Here’s what teams can do tactically to improve their lead in Ahmedabad on Sunday:

Let Shami sweep Australia’s openers

Open the bowling alley with Mohamed Shami. Ahmedabad has had little new ball movement, so make Shami stand out early against Australia’s left-handed openers. Shami to the left-handed batsmen in this World Cup so far: 52 balls, 32 runs, eight wickets. He is India’s best bet to exploit Travis Head’s weakness outside off stump. He is also a master of the angle around the wicket which worries David Warner, who scored 117 runs off 130 deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah without getting to him in ODIs. Also, Bumrah in powerplay in this World Cup: 3.13 and more.

Can Australia contain itself with the new ball?

Australia’s bowlers have been stingy in the early overs but have not picked up as many wickets as they would have liked. To be fair, they have barely played in conditions where the new ball has moved. The day he moved, they had South Africa. 23 for 4 in the semi-final. However, Ahmedabad is almost certain to test his skills with the new ball. Josh Hazlewood has been exemplary with the lengths of him, but Mitchell Starc It can be expensive if the ball doesn’t move. Australia should consider changing Pat Cummins as early as the third over if there is no change for Starc. Hard lengths like Cummins have worked in Ahmedabad.

Watch out for Rohit vs Hazlewood

Hazlewood’s immaculate lengths will pose an early threat to India. He found a little movement in the seam in the league game in Chennai and had India 2 for 3 in no time. He can reach that knee length time and time again. Rohit Sharma won’t want to be a stationary target, so don’t be surprised if he comes down the track after overtaking Hazlewood and hits it outside of his length. It will be a fascinating contest: Australia looking to pin Rohit at their crease, Rohit looking to pick on his lengths.

Australia must hope opening risks pay off

Australia just needs to have a big day on the power play. Indian bowlers will not be discouraged so easily. Australia will hope that everything that has worked for Warner against Bumrah in the past continues to work on Sunday. And that a couple of early risks pay off for Head.

The XI: India unchanged, but Stoinis for Labuschagne?

Any temptation India had to replace Mohammed Siraj with R Ashwin (his only match in this World Cup was against Australia) will take a backseat due to Hardik Pandya’s absence. They can’t risk going in with just two fast bowlers.

Australia could be tempted to play Marcos Stoinis, as Marnus Labuschagne has struggled against left-arm spin, but with their line-up loaded with attacking batsmen, they could find themselves three down in 15 overs. That’s why they need two consistent hitters to ensure Glenn MaxwellThe entry point is after 30 overs.

Jadeja rules the intermediates

India also has the advantage in this phase. Ravindra Jadeja He has long been a thorn in Australia’s flesh and this World Cup has been no different. He dismissed Smith and Labuschagne in the league match, and has gone just 4.25 a year in this World Cup, and 4.18 against right-handed hitters. Australia’s numbers 3 to 7 are all right-handed batsmen.

Kuldeep Yadav has flown a bit under the radar but still averaged 24.53 with an economy of 4.32 and over in the World Cup. He will be India’s first weapon in case any of Australia’s left-handed batsmen manage to get out of the powerplay.

Don’t rule out a reverse swing if the box is as dry as it was when India played Pakistan and reversed it. That will also be Australia’s hope because India’s middle-order, barring Shreyas Iyer, enjoys good match-ups against their main spinner Adam Zampa. Maxwell is a bit of an unknown with an impressive economy rate of 4.72 in this World Cup, but India’s right-handed batsmen are expected to try and trouble him.

Choose to chase

The last three World Cup finals have been won by chasing teams, as have the last four T20 World Cup finals. I don’t want to say it has any relation to this match, but “runs on the board in a final” may not be much more than a cliché.

Now let’s move on to what influences this match. Three of the four league matches played in Ahmedabad in this World Cup were won by the chasing teams. Also the two IPL finals. Even when there is no dew, the pitch tends to quicken and improve for batting under the lights, and without the alarming swing and seam as seen at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The two matches Ahmedabad hosted in November were more competitive, with Australia defending successfully against England and Afghanistan putting serious pressure on South Africa, which could suggest that the arrival of winter has had some impact. That could mitigate the launch advantage to some extent.

Either way, the team that wins the toss could try to chase him. In fact, that might be Australia’s best chance: to contain India in slow conditions in the afternoon and then capitalize on more slippery ground. Otherwise, India have the advantage and a couple of Australians will have to play without skin if they bat first.