The stage is set for one of the biggest clashes of the 2023 ODI World Cup, when the home team India lock horns against the five time World champions Australia in match five of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the historic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, 08th October, 2023 at 2:00 pm local time. Ahead of the India’s opening clash against Australia let us look at the top five batters and bowlers to watch out for.
IND vs AUS: Top 5 Batters to Watch Out
David Warner
David Warner would love to resurrect and repeat the 2019 ODI World Cup heroics. He came one run short of tying Rohit Sharma’s total runs (648). Despite Australia’s failure to win the title, the left-handed batter had a remarkable tournament smashing three hundreds. He has been in phenomenal form in 2023 smashing 390 runs in nine matches smashing four fifties and one hundred.
Warner has a phenomenal record against India in One-Day Internationals smashing 1174 runs in 25 matches against men in blue and he has scored 575 runs in 12 matches in India. He is one of the top batters to watch out for in India vs Australia matchup on Sunday.
Virat Kohli
The chase master has already amassed 612 runs in just 16 ODIs in 2023 alone, with at an average of 56 and a top score of 166. In terms of his World Cup record, Kohli has amassed 1030 runs in 26 innings over the course of 2011, 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups smashing two centuries in the process. Virat averaged above 50 throughout his World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2019.
Kohli has scored 2228 runs in 47 ODI matches against Australia and 5503 runs in 111 matches in India. When it comes to ODI World Cups he scored a magnificent 82 run knock in the 2019 edition. He is one of the top batters to watch out in India opening game against Australia.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, the current Indian captain, ignited the World Cup 2019 by slamming five hundreds. With 648 runs in 8 innings, the elegant right-hander also set the record for most runs scored in an ICC tournament. It will be his third appearance in ODI World Cups. In the lead-up to the competition, he had a strong Asia Cup scoring three half-centuries.
Rohit Sharma has scored 2332 runs in 43 matches in ODI’s against Australia and his record in India in the 50-over format is phenomenal (4148 runs in 80 matches).
Steve Smith
The savior and man of big moments for Australia, Steve Smith looks all geared up for the ODI World Cup and his first challenge will be up against a strong Indian squad. In the last three matches Smith has amassed 118 runs and he scored a quickfire fifty against Netherlands in the warm up game. Smith has scored 1260 runs in 27 matches against India in ODI’s and has amassed 536 runs in 19 ODI matches played in India. When it comes to World Cup’s, Steve Smith is the leading run-scorer (781 runs) amongst the active players in ODI World Cup’s for Australia.
KL Rahul
KL Rahul announced his arrival after returning to the squad from Injury with a bang by scoring a match winning hundred against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and followed it up with crucial knocks against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In the ODI series against Australia, Rahul scored two fifties and looked in good touch. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, Rahul was the third highest run-scorer for India (466 runs). He has amassed 528 runs in 14 ODI matches against Australia and has scored 969 runs 23 matches in India.
IND vs AUS: Top 5 Bowlers to Watch Out
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc’s performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 will have a significant impact on their overall success. Starc has the reputation of performing in big games and he was the leading wicket taker in the 2015 (22 wickets) and 2019 (27 wickets) ODI World Cups. His record against India in ODI’s is phenomenal, he has picked up 26 wickets in 17 matches against the Men in Blue and has picked up 12 wickets in eight matches played in India.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah on his return to international cricket after a back surgery has done alright. He was clinical with his bowling in the Asia Cup and in the ODI series against Australia. Bumrah will be key to India’s chances of winning the World Cup. His first major test begins against Australia on 8th October at Chennai. In the 19 ODI matches played against Australia, Bumrah has picked up 26 wickets and his record in India is phenomenal when it comes to ODI’s. He has bagged 44 wickets in 30 matches in India.
Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa has a huge role to play if Australia’s success in the World Cup. Since the start of 2022, he has bagged 45 wickets in the 50-over format. Zampa has a very good record against India and has got the better of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the past. He has picked up 34 wickets in 21 matches against India and when it comes to his ODI record in India, Zampa has picked up 27 wickets in 16 matches. The surface at Chennai offers turn and he is expected to play a key role in the opening encounter. He is one of the top bowler to watch out for in the Ind vs Aus ODI World Cup clash on Sunday.
Ravichandran Ashwin
The member of the 2011 ODI World Cup squad and the home town boy Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to be part of the playing XI against Australia in India first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. An injury to Axar Patel has paved way for the expereicned off spinner to feature in the squad. His last World Cup appearance was against Australia in the semi-final of the 2015 ODI World Cup. Ashwin has picked up 17 wickets in 10 matches in ODI World Cups and has a phenomenal record against Australia. He has picked up 20 wickets against the Aussies in ODI cricket and 69 wickets in 44 ODI matches played in India.
Ravindra Jadeja
Another player who is very familiar with the conditions at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Ravindra Jadeja is expected to play a huge role with the ball against Australia. Having played most of the white ball cricket at Chennai, Jadeja is expected to come good. Jadeja has picked up 34 wickets in 39 matches against Australia and has bagged 95 wickets in 68 ODI matches played in India. In the recently concluded ODI series against the Aussies. He was at the top of his game with the ball picking up four wickets in three matches. He is one of the top bowlers to watch out for in IND vs AUS ODI World Cup match on Sunday.
