Who will win the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023: India or Australia?
The ICC World Cup 2023 is set to kick off on Sunday, October 8, with a blockbuster match between hosts India and defending champions Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Read more
The two teams are among the favourites to lift the trophy, having won the tournament seven times between them. Both sides are also in top form, having won their respective warm-up games convincingly.
India, ranked number one in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, have a formidable batting line-up, led by captain Virat Kohli, who is the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. The hosts also have the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, who can score big and fast. India's bowling attack is equally impressive, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the pace department, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yuzvendra Chahal providing spin options.
Australia, ranked number three in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, have a balanced and experienced squad, with many players who were part of their victorious campaign in 2019. The visitors have a strong top order, featuring David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, who can all score heavily and consistently. Australia's bowling unit is spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, who took a hat-trick in their warm-up game against Netherlands. Read more
The Aussies also have Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, and Glenn Maxwell to complete their bowling arsenal.
The match promises to be a high-octane affair, as both teams have a history of intense rivalry and close contests. The last time they met in a World Cup was in the semi-final of 2019, where Australia beat India by 95 runs to reach the final. Read more
However, India have a slight edge over Australia in their head-to-head record in ODIs, having won 53 out of 101 matches. Read more
The hosts will also have the advantage of playing in familiar conditions and in front of a passionate home crowd.
The match will start at 14:00 local time (08:30 GMT) and will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and Hotstar in India, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports in Australia, and Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Go in the UK. Read more
You can also follow the live scorecard and commentary on the official ICC website. Read more
This is the first of six group stage matches for both teams, who will also face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Pakistan in Group A. The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. The final of the World Cup will be played on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Read more
Who will win the opening match of the World Cup? Will India start their campaign with a bang or will Australia spoil their party? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments section below.
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