Undefeated India clash with Australia eyeing third 50-over World Cup title

India, who missed out from the semi-final stage on the last two occasions (2015 and 2019 World Cups), are the best team in this edition of the tournament winning all 10 matches they have played so far.

The two-time World Champions, who won the title in 1983 and 2011, reached the final on Wednesday beating New Zealand by 70 runs, banking on the batters' terrific performance and Mohammad Shami's seven-wicket haul.

Photo courtesy: UNI

"For us, what is important is to focus on what we want to do as a team… We don't want to worry about what the opposition is and what kind of form they are in…

"We need to focus on what is important for us and what we need to do as a team and players as well," said India captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the final.

India are into the final of a World Cup for the first time since 2011 and for the fourth time in all.

The cricket fans in India are hoping for a sort of avenge of the 2003 World Cup final defeat of Sourav Ganguly’s Team India against Ricky Ponting's Australia.

India were knocked out of the World Cup from the 2015 semi-final by Australia, who went on to win the title in that year’s tournament, as well.

Photo courtesy: UNI

Among all the Indian batters, who all have contributed heavily to the team’s terrific run in this World Cup, cricket icon Virat Kohli stands tall at the top scoring over 700 runs in this World Cup so far.

Kohli, who along with skipper Rohit Sharma forms the crux of Indian batting, on Wednesday surpassed legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record 49 One Day International (ODI) hundreds to become the first to hit 50 centuries in the shorter format of the sport.

Shami, who dashed New Zealand's hope to reach the final on Wednesday picking seven of ten wickets alone, will surely be Rohit's biggest bet against Australia along with premier fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

"One guy who didn’t play at the start of the tournament, who's done really well, is obviously Mohammed Shami. He's a class bowler to right and left handers. So he's going to be a big one.

"But yeah, these guys we’ve played a lot so all our batters can draw on moments where they have taken on these bowlers and done well," said Australia captain Pat Cummins on Saturday.

Photo courtesy: X/@BCCI

Though Australia, as many would claim, looked like a shadow of their past, India will not forget how Glenn Maxwell steered his team to a stunning win over Afghanistan slamming an unbeaten 201 in a group league match.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at the Narendra Modi Stadium to watch the match.

All World Cup winning captains Kapil Dev, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ricky Ponting, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke, Eoin Morgan, other ex-cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and several Bollywood personalities will be in attendance.

The closing ceremony of the World Cup has been divided into four parts, which will be held at the start of the match, during innings break, drinks break during second innings and post match.

An acrobatic air show for ten minutes by the Indian Air Force at 12:30 pm, a parade of all World Cup winning captains along with a musical performance at the innings break, a light and a laser show at the drinks break during the second match and a fireworks show post match will be held as planned.