Ahmedabad, Nov 18 – India will meet Australia for the second time in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday here at the Narendra Modi Stadium with an aim to avenge the painful loss of the 2003 marquee event.
The ICC ODI World Cup final countdown has reached a fever pitch, especially for cricket enthusiasts eager to witness India’s showdown against Australia in the grand finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.
India and Australia have faced off in some of the most engaging contests in recent times and a new chapter to their rivalry will be added when they contest 50-over cricket’s ultimate glory. Team India qualified to the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 after beating New Zealand in a high-scoring match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer the key performers on November 15.
Kohli became the first man in the history of One Day International cricket to score 50 centuries in the format as India’s relentless number three helped the team put together a first-innings score of 397/4 – enough to earn India a place in a World Cup final for the first time since 2014. Team Australia has set-up the title clash with India after beating South Africa by three wickets in a tense semi-final at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. The five-time champions have marched into their eighth Men’s ODI World Cup final, which is also a re-match of the 2003 World Cup finale against India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be the chief guest and former India captains MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev are also likely to grace the game, the News18CricketNext report said. Apart from prominent politicians, ex-cricketers, and the families of current players, the complete top leadership of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and ICC (International Cricket Council) will grace the event. Additionally, representatives from various state associations will also be present in Ahmedabad for the occasion, the report said.