IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma vs Starc, Virat Kohli vs Hazlewood among decisive match-ups in World Cup final

Hosts India will take on five-time champions Australia in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad this Sunday, where several crucial individual duels are anticipated to heavily influence the result.

World Cup 2023: Full Coverage

This title clash marks the pinnacle of the tournament, pitting two top-tier teams against each other in the battle for the World Cup title. The two teams would rely on their star players to help them win this World Cup in 2023.

While the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami would be key for India, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Steve Smith would be pivotal for the Australians.

ROHIT vs STARC

Having scored 550 runs at a strike rate of over 120, Rohit Sharma has led from the front in the ongoing ICC tournament. Mitchell Starc and the Australian team are acutely aware of Rohit’s potency during the Powerplay. The Indian captain has turned matches around within the first 10 overs, exhibiting an impressive strike rate of 133.08. Starc could hold the key to dismissing Rohit early and altering the game’s course.

Throughout his ODI journey, Rohit has faced 33 dismissals from left-arm pace, 22 of which occurred within the initial 10 overs. During this World Cup, Dilshan Madushanka managed to outsmart Rohit, sending a delivery that shattered his stumps at the Wankhede.

Starc managed to overcome a slump in form during the tournament, showcasing a commendable performance in Kolkata during the semi-final. However, the exaggerated movement witnessed there might not be replicated in Ahmedabad. Despite a checkered past, Rohit remained unfazed in the semi-finals against Trent Boult. Who will make the first move in this potentially decisive showdown?

VIRAT vs HAZLEWOOD

India star Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the World Cup 2023 and is currently fresh from his record 50th ODI hundred in the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai.

It becomes crucial for the Australians to get the prized scalp of Virat Kohli early on, considering the fact that the Indian maestro has been in exceptional form, marked by an impressive run of eight fifty-plus scores in 10 innings. Hazlewood, who delivered a stunning new-ball spell that disrupted South Africa in the semi-final, might just hold the key for Australia in achieving this objective.

Fortunately for the Australians, Hazlewood holds a significant advantage over Virat Kohli in limited-overs cricket. Kohli has fallen five times to Hazlewood in the 88 balls he faced against the right-arm pacer in ODIs,, including an instance during the group stage match between their teams in this World Cup.

Although Kohli managed 85 runs before a Hazlewood short ball led to his dismissal, Australia missed an opportunity when Kohli offered another chance off the same bowler during the match. In the eighth over of India’s run-chase, with Kohli at 12 and India at 20/3, Mitchell Marsh couldn’t hold onto a diving catch after Kohli top-edged Hazlewood’s short ball.