India's strengths and weaknesses ahead of 2023 WC final vs Australia
As india prepares for the highly anticipated 2023 world cup final versus australia, the squad is in a strong position, bolstered by a combination of individual talent and collective power. The story of India's road to the final is weaved around the excellent form of its batting order and bowling attack, as well as on-field prowess. As a result, india is the only unbeaten team in the world cup thus far, and Rohit Sharma's men will attempt to finish the tournament unblemished when they data-face the great Australians in the final match in Ahmedabad.
Strengths
Strengths
Selfless, Sensational Rohit
Throughout the competition, rohit sharma has demonstrated an extraordinarily unselfish approach at the opening slot, putting the team's objectives ahead of personal accomplishments. His aggressive style has helped india get off to a solid start throughout the tournament, and he didn't let the lingering emotions of India's 2019 semi-final loss to new zealand affect his performance in the rematch earlier this week. His 27-ball 45 laid the groundwork for India's outstanding batting effort, as the team amassed 397/4 in fifty overs.
Kohli's record-breaking Run
Virat kohli, the batting lineup's backbone, has been in great form, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most hundreds in ODI history, as well as the most runs in a single world cup edition, on Wednesday. His continuous run-scoring has not only powered india forward but has also cemented him as the man to watch in the final. In India's group encounter against australia, kohli was the captain of the sinking ship in a 200-run chase; india was reeling at 2/3 when the 35-year-old india star, along with KL Rahul, rebuilt the indian innings and finally guaranteed a six-wicket triumph. He scored 85 that day and has since added three more fifties and as many hundreds to his tournament total.
Role clarity and aggressive intent
Role clarity and aggressive intent
The semi-final versus new zealand demonstrated the batting order's clarity. Shubman Gill came up with an aggressive approach following Rohit Sharma's departure, letting kohli play his natural style. When the youngster was forced to leave the game due to cramping and a hamstring issue, shreyas iyer stepped up to keep the pressure on the Kiwis. Throughout the tournament, it became clear that virat kohli is the glue that holds the batting order together; he offers indian batting stability, and the team management acknowledges this quite well.
Bowling prowess and Shami's revelation
Mohammed shami has been India's bowling revelation, bagging a record 23 wickets in just seven matches. His ability to lead the pace attack with accuracy and select vital wickets at crucial times has increased India's dominance in the World Cup. shami did not play in India's first four matches, but his inclusion was made feasible by hardik Pandya's injury. While Hardik's absence was a significant loss for the batting order, the bowling attack received a strong pacer in shami, who caused havoc on opponents throughout the tournament. shami interrupted the deadly combination between Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell against new zealand by removing the former and subsequently finishing with fantastic figures of 7/57.
Weaknesses
Weaknesses
Inconsistent Siraj
Despite glimpses of brilliance, mohammed siraj has failed to establish consistency in the 2023 World Cup. While his remarkable session against sri lanka (3/16 in seven overs) was vital to a surprising batting collapse, he has struggled with run leakage, as seen by his 78-run outing against New Zealand. Siraj has the highest bowling average among indian bowlers with 15 or more overs in the competition, with a 32.61 average, indicating the need for better consistency in his performances.
Untested lower order in high-pressure situations
The lower order has never had to confront difficult conditions in this edition due to our top order's outstanding durability and steadiness. However, anything may happen in a high-pressure match, such as the world cup final. And, while india has resources to deal with problems, they have mostly gone untested thus far. The little experience of players like suryakumar yadav (77 deliveries in 6 matches) and ravindra jadeja (96 deliveries in 10 matches) raises questions about their ability to manage pressure scenarios in the tournament's latter stages. Suryakumar came to bat in the penultimate over of the previous match, whereas Jadeja did not bat at all.
Lack of Batting Depth
This is no secret; after all, hardik Pandya's absence considerably weakened India's batting depth. In the last six matches, the team has used six batsmen, and while bowlers like bumrah and shami have some batting aptitude, their ability to play a supporting role at the crease remains unknown. australia, on the other hand, benefits from the all-round talent of players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who have repeatedly proved their tenacity and ability to manage pressure. In the semi-final against South Africa, the pair put up an undefeated 22-run stand to secure victory. And who can forget Cummins' superb 68-ball unbeaten innings against Afghanistan, when he entered after the side had lost 7 wickets for 91 in a 292-run chase, and persisted at one end to guarantee Glenn Maxwell's incredible power-hitting earned australia a memorable win?
The unavoidable reality of knockout cricket is that certainty may be difficult to come by. However, India's strengths have been highlighted throughout the competition, from a powerful batting order to top-quality bowling. The calm and steady demeanour displayed in the semi-final, when they withstood the frightening duo of Williamson and Mitchell, displays a side that can deal with pressure. And if it is any indication, india should win for the third time on Sunday.
The unavoidable reality of knockout cricket is that certainty may be difficult to come by. However, India's strengths have been highlighted throughout the competition, from a powerful batting order to top-quality bowling. The calm and steady demeanour displayed in the semi-final, when they withstood the frightening duo of Williamson and Mitchell, displays a side that can deal with pressure. And if it is any indication, india should win for the third time on Sunday.