Cricket World Cup 2023 Final: Three Factors That Give Australia The Edge Against India

Five-time champions Australia face hosts India in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Sunday, November 19. The match begins at 2:00 PM IST. Australia will seek to claim a record sixth World Cup crown on Sunday. The final is a rematch of the 2003 title clash which the Aussies won in South Africa. The team, captained by Pat Cummins, enters the final following a thrilling victory over the Proteas. The Australian batting lineup has found form at a crucial juncture, while the bowling attack has demonstrated its prowess in the latter stages of the tournament. Ahead of the final, we take a look at the factors that put Australia in an advantageous position against India.

1. Battle-hardened batting line-up

Australia were given a run for their money by South Africa during the former's three-wicket victory in the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Chasing a modest score of 212, Australia navigated a challenging, slow-turning track to secure the win. The resilience of the Aussie batting line-up was tested by the spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi from South Africa. However, the Aussies conjured their renowned fighting spirit to triumph in the last-four clash.

Tail-enders Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins exhibited commendable grit and determination to guide Australia across the finish line. This was particularly evident in their semi-final against South Africa as well as in a previous match against Afghanistan, where Australia found themselves reeling at 91/7 before Glenn Maxwell and Cummins joined forces to secure victory.

In contrast, India's lower order has seen limited action throughout the tournament. Despite losing a maximum of six wickets while chasing