India vs Australia: Key Players & Battles to Watch Out for ICC World Cup 2019

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Updated: June 7, 2019
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India and Australia are set to play a nail-biting encounter on the 9^th of Jun 2019 in the ICC Cricket World Cup. India are coming on a high after beating South Africa while Australia have also got off to a great start and recently defeated the West Indies in convincing fashion. Both sides will be raring to go in possibly one of the best and most fiercely contested matches of the tournament.

Below are some interesting facts about players and battles to watch out for –

Head to Head in World Cups

Australia lead by 7 wins against India’s 2 in the World Cup games. In all One-Day format competitions, Australia lead India, having 61 games against India’s tally of 35 wins. In the sub-continent, Australia lead India with 22 wins as compared to India’s tally of 21 wins.

Team India Advantages

India has arguably the best death bowling specialist in world cricket today – Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has an uncanny ability to pick up early wickets and then stifle oppositions at the death. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are a deadly spin duo that may be able to expose Australia’s weaknesses against spin bowling. The top order is also one of the best in world cricket and Rohit Sharma is already well set, having scored a century in the previous game. Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav lend more balance to the side with Vijay Shankar and Ravindra Jadeja waiting in the wings.

Team Australia Advantages

Team Australia have bounced back with a vengeance after being on a losing streak prior to the 2019 ICC World Cup. Australia have just beaten the West Indies and Mitchell Starc is their main bowling asset who can pick up wickets. Australia also have a solid all-rounder in Nathan Coulter Nile who can both bat effectively while picking up wickets at the same time. In David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith and Glen Maxwell, there is no dearth of batting firepower. Pace bowling is clearly Australia’s strength along with batting depth.

Battles to Watch Out

Jasprit Bumrah vs. David Warner : Warner is in red hot form which he carried over all throughout the IPL 2019 and beyond. It will be a riveting contest when Bumrah, India’s pace bowling sensation, lines up against the explosive opener in a bid to castle him early. Will Warner have the last laugh or will Bumrah triumph? This is one mega battle on the cards.
Virat Kohli vs. Mitchell Starc: Mitchell Starc has been an IPL teammate of Virat Kohli and the latter will be looking to combat him successfully to lend heft to the Indian run tally. Starc, on the other hand, knows a few things about Kohli’s technique and will be looking to dismiss him early before he ends up doing too much damage.
Hardik Pandya vs. Glen Maxwell: Both are premier all-rounders and will be plying various skills in the crunch match. This one is expected to be a cracker as both can turn the game around with batting, bowling and fielding skills alike.
KL Rahul vs. Adam Zampa: Adam Zampa is Australia’s master spinner and should come off strong in a duel versus the pick of India’s middle order. KL Rahul, on the other hand, looks good on the English pitches and should he should be aiming to bring strength to the middle-order batting, will look to take the battle to Zampa’s crafty spinners.

All in all, it is a thriller on the cards as two of the favourites take on each other in what will be one of the most viewed matches this ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Both India and Australia can be invincible on their day if they play to their strengths. The key will be picking the right combination and teamwork and that is where both teams will look to get it right. In Finch and Kohli, we have two really contrasting captains in terms of temperament and it remains to be seen who triumphs on the day that matters.