India vs Australia, an Inevitable Clash of The Generation's Best

India and Australia both were among the favorites coming into the tournament. Both sides have a lot of history behind them. Over the last decade alone, the head-to-head, player match-ups and encounters across formats have just grown. From Steve Smith vs Virat Kohli to both sides flexing their fast bowling strength the journey has had its magic.

The WTC Final in 2023 was said to be the culmination of it all. However, fortune has it that the two sides get a chance to go at it again. A good chunk of both sides were in the squad back in 2013 when Australia famously toured India for four Tests and later seven ODIs. David Warner and Steve Smith were growing but still in their early days. Mitchell Starc was in Mitchell Johnson’s shadow and Josh Hazlewood was still on the sidelines.

For India, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were just getting in. Rohit Sharma started opening and Ravindra Jadeja was as much of a bits and pieces cricketer as one could be. The two sides though went on to face off in some classics over the decade. In 2015 Steve Smith haunted India. He lived rent free in their minds with his dominance in the Test series that summer and then a century in the World Cup Semi-Finals to bat India out of the game.

Virat Kohli got him back though in 2016, as he ran Australia to the ground in Mohali. The encounters kept building. In 2017, Australia shook India with a Test win in Pune and India responded with two series wins in Australia. The second in 2021 is one that will stay a classic with India winning despite losing a handful of players to injury.

Their encounters over the decade though served as a clear indication as to who the best teams are. While England did boss the white-ball formats, it was India and Australia who were silently threatening and bringing the game to life.

After a decade of feisty and friendly encounters, both stand at the biggest of stages. A Cricket World Cup Final at Ahmedabad in front of 100000 spectators. World Cup Finals often hand interesting perspectives. In the past they have been played with teams defying the odds like India in 1983 or even to some extent New Zealand in 2019. Sri Lanka and Pakistan did the same in 1996 and 1992 respectively.

Australia and India did face of once already and the encounter feels like it took place a long time ago. Battling it out in Chepauk, the game turned out to be another classic with Australia fighting despite losing the game. The loss threw them off their rhythm though with Adam Zampa looking lost, their keeper dropped and their all-rounders not doing their job. Freakish wins though got them back.

India on the other end have been as clinical as ever. Winning ten in a row, they have hardly been under pressure. Barring moments like the Williamson-Mitchell partnership in the Semi’s or when they were 2 for 3 against Australia, it has been pretty smooth.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma took turns to stand up. Bumrah and Shami have hardly allowed their radar to go missing. Overall, very few players in the side have had successive failures. Finals or knockouts for that manner remain a massive challenge. In 2019 as well, India were just as clinical only to falter with their players going through a really bad day in the Semi-Finals.

Australia know the Indian Team really well to go with it, and if anyone could make the Indian Team falter it is them. The upcoming encounter incidentally isn’t their first World Cup encounter at Ahmedabad. India and Australia faced off at the same venue back in 2011. Both captains were not in the squad then. Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin were the only ones to play that game from the current squads. Steve Smith was around too but was benched for that game.

It was that very ground that saw Australia’s 12-year streak of winning World Cups come to an end. Now, Australia will be eager and will back themselves to return the favour, breaking a 10-game winning streak by the Indian Team.

After a long tournament that has tested the stamina of players and fans alike, we are finally at the last hurdle. Two powerhouses who have built one of the fiercest rivalries in the century face off. They faced off in a Final back in 2003 with Australia batting India out of the game. If Australia races ahead early, flashes of that game are likely to come out, putting a lot of heat on the Indians. Fans remember it well as will the commentary box, which has both Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting, captains of that encounter.

The current group themselves have had their fair share of encounters in the last decade. There is potential for more but this could well be the last time we see some of these players face off at the biggest of stages. With their next big encounter potentially in the 2024 T20 World Cup or the Australian Test summer in 2024, nobody knows who will be around up until then. For now, the Final ahead gives a lot to lament, remember, be nervous about, and celebrate.

Winning titles is in Australia’s DNA. Finals often do end up being one-sided and if either side gets going, mainly Australia with their attitude on the big stage, it could unfold quickly. The last World Cup Final is remembered as one of the best ODIs ever. Now, with two of the best in the century at the big stage it will be interesting to see what they have to offer.