A billion Indians hope for cricket World Cup glory

2 years ago 56

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Both teams take to the field prior to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and Australia at MA Chidambaram Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Chennai, India.

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Live Reporting

Edited by Geeta Pandey & Sharanya Hrishikesh

All times stated are UK

Hard at work ahead of the final
The Indian and Australian teams held practice sessions at the stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
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Image caption: Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur of India look at the pitch during a nets session at Narendra Modi Stadium
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Image caption: Shubman Gill at the practice session
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Image caption: Indian coach Rahul Dravid (right) with captain Rohit Sharma
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Image caption: Australia's Steve Smith plays a shot during the practice session
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Image caption: Cameron Green bowls during the training session
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Image caption: Alex Carey of Australia speaks with coaching staff
Indian fans pray for team's victory
With the stakes so high, fans are not leaving anything to chance. Across the country, many are offering special prayers for the team's victory, seeking some divine help.
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Video caption: Indian fans pray for their team's success
It will be a high-octane match
Vikas Pandey
Reporting from Delhi
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Image caption: Australian captain Pat Cummins with his Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma
It’s going to be a contest between two well balanced sides. India’s fierce bowling squad, which includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammad Siraj, will face in-form Australian batters like David Warner, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh. But the visitors will again be betting big on Glen Maxwell, who single-handedly won the match against Afghanistan and helped Australia reach the finals.
Australia’s bowling attack is led by captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and spinner Adam Zampa. The hosts will look to neutralise the Australian attack with in-form captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill leading the batting department. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav are also in peak form. With the two sides having so much quality, it’s most likely going to be a high-octane game.
Will more records be made at world’s biggest cricket stadium?
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On Sunday, all eyes will be on Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, the venue of the World Cup final clash.
Spread across 63 acres and with a field size of 180X150 yards, the stadium is named after India’s prime minister. It can seat 132,000 people - that’s 42,000 more than Melbourne Cricket Ground, the world’s second biggest which can accommodate 90,000 spectators.
But it’s not just the size that makes the Ahmedabad stadium unique. It is also the ground where several historic records have been set. It was here that Sunil Gavaskar scored 10,000 runs in 1986-87 to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket. It was also here that Kapil Dev took his 432nd wicket to become the highest wicket taker in Test cricket.
Will Sunday’s match provide the stadium with more historic moments to add to its hall of fame?
So, can India break the jinx?
Soutik Biswas
Reporting from Delhi
Sunday could be redemption day.
Never before in the history of World Cup have fans seen such a domineering Indian team, winning 10 matches, including a knockout game, on the trot.
By beginning as firm favourites, India will look to break the jinx today.
Long wait for ICC trophy
Soutik Biswas
Reporting from Delhi
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Despite being one of the top teams in Tests, one-day internationals and T20 matches, India has flopped in the knockout stages in almost all ICC tournaments - across formats - since 2013. And 10 years is a long time to wait for a title - they last won the Champions Trophy limited overs in England in 2013.
By losing two successive finals of the World Test Championship, India blotted their copybook further. However, cricket writer Suresh Menon cautions that “it is dangerous to seek a pattern here, for there cannot be one”.
“White ball, red ball, tournaments at home, tournaments away, different captains and coaches, different times of the season - there are too many variables,” he adds.
Indian dominance or a golden Australian treble?
Matthew Henry
Reporting from Ahmedabad
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India have been all-conquering throughout the World Cup with 10 wins from 10 matches. An 11th will secure their third World Cup title and crown them the first unbeaten champions since the great Australians in 2007.
But despite India's dominance, this final still has its uncertainties.
The Australians are, after all, going for their sixth World Cup - four more than anyone else. Australia won the World Test Championship final against India earlier this year and won when the sides met in the final of the 2003 edition of this tournament.
There are other reasons for India to be wary. Six weeks ago when these two teams began their World Cup campaigns against each other in Chennai, India won handsomely, but there was just enough in that game to give Australia some hope.
Click here to read about the two teams’ chances.
Welcome to our live coverage of Cricket World Cup 2023 final
Geeta Pandey
Reporting from Delhi
Hosts India who’ve been unstoppable, winning every single match they’ve played in the tournament, will be meeting Australia who are seeking to win a sixth World Cup crown. It promises to be an exciting game.
The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Along with Sharanya Hrishikesh, Vikas Pandey, Soutik Biswas, Meryl Sebastian and Antariksh Jain, I’ll be bringing you all the excitement building up to the game.
Stay with us!