By 
It seems as though we are currently situated at the center of a storm. In recent weeks, the World Cup has transformed into a whirlwind of compelling stories.
From Virat Kohli’s determined journey to his 50th ODI hundred to Glenn Maxwell’s record-breaking century in the World Cup, and the unforgettable 201* against Afghanistan.
There was also a controversial timed-out dismissal, New Zealand coming close but falling short against the big teams, Pakistan’s exit prompting significant changes back home, Sri Lanka facing a steep decline in both administration and cricketing performance, Bangladesh undergoing introspection, and Afghanistan experiencing a captivating yet limited campaign in the tournament.
At the epicenter of this whirlwind, as befitting a tournament of this caliber, the conditions are ripe for a truly dramatic conclusion. The impending final appears to encapsulate all the unfolding events since October 5. First and foremost, there is undeniable certainty that these are the top-performing teams of the competition.
India’s commanding presence throughout the tournament is evident in their staggering average winning margin of 175 runs when batting first, and their proficiency in chasing is reflected in an average victory with 64.4 balls to spare—figures that harken back to Australia’s dominant march to the 2007 World Cup final.
Australia initially found themselves at the bottom of the table after two matches, partly due to India’s convincing victory in their tournament opener. However, they have since orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with a sequence of eight consecutive victories.
While India tends to dominate their opponents from the start, Australia’s journey has been marked by significant challenges, including surviving a precarious situation at 91 for 7 while chasing 292 against Afghanistan, overcoming white-hot spells like Tabraiz Shamsi’s in the semi-final, and navigating determined opposition chases such as New Zealand’s in Dharamsala.
Rather than being worn down by these intense passages of play, Australia may have been strengthened and tempered by them. Despite losing series to South Africa and India leading up to this tournament, they were not considered favorites on current form. Additionally, their campaign has been imperfect; Mitchell Starc only hit top form in the semi-final, Steven Smith hasn’t reached his peak, and powerplay wickets have sometimes been scarce.
India has approached perfection in this tournament. They’ve bowled out opponents for less than 80 twice. In five instances of batting first, they exceeded 350 three times and posted 326 for 5 in another. Their fielding has been outstanding, and four of their top five batsmen have scored centuries during the campaign. Even Shubman Gill, who hasn’t reached a century, maintains an impressive average of 50 and a striking rate of 108.02.
The team has not only thrived on their roaring home crowds but also skillfully directed by Virat Kohli, resembling an orchestra conductor orchestrating the entire stadium. Watching India in the grand stadiums of this World Cup has felt like a synchronized performance, with every aspect finely tuned, voices in perfect harmony, and all the broader forces influencing the match propelling India towards glory.
If there’s a team unlikely to be intimidated by over 100,000 fans in the sport’s largest stadium, it’s Australia.
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