INDIA AND AUSTRALIA GEAR UP FOR CRACKING WORLD CUP FINAL

The entire cricket world’s eyes will be squarely focused on the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday when hosts India face off against Australia in the ICC World Cup Final.

India will be seeking their third World Cup title, while Australia are on the hunt for a record sixth championship.

India will also be looking to maintain the record of the host nation having won the last three World Cups.

Rohit Sharma’s team have been unstoppable thus far having won all 10 matches enroute to arguably the most highly-anticipated match since India last won the World Cup here back in 2011.

Australia, meanwhile, have recovered from two consecutive defeats in their opening matches against India and South Africa. They have since won eight matches in a row, including claiming revenge over the Proteas in the semi-final in Kolkata.

The stage is all set for a cracking showpiece in front of 135 000 spectators at the spectacular NM Stadium.

“It’s going to be a good contest. Both teams deserve to be at this stage playing the finals and we do understand the importance of what Australia can do. They are a very complete side and for us again what is important is to focus on what we want to do as a team,” Sharma said.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins echoed his Indian counterpart’s sentiments.

“We know it’s going to be a packed house. There's going to be 130 000 fans here supporting India. So, it's going to be awesome. They've been playing really well, undefeated this tournament,” Cummins said.

“But we know at our best we can give them a good shake. We've played them quite a lot over the last couple years with success so it's all building up for a nice final.”

India’s unblemished record is due to possessing a team that contains in-form batters like captain Sharma, opener Shubman Gill, the imperious Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer as well as a red-hot bowling attack that is superbly led by Mohammed Shami.

Kohli and Iyer both struck centuries in the semi-final victory over New Zealand, while Shami claimed a record seven-wicket haul.

“The bowlers have actually done a great job for us in this tournament. When we started off, we were chasing in the first four or five games and to restrict teams below 300 on Indian conditions was a great effort.

“Our seamers and the spinners did that perfectly. And then again, the second half of the tournament where we had to defend scores, we've defended quite clinically as well. So, I can say that they've been very professional. They know what is expected out of them,” Sharma said.

“All the three seamers that have played in the second half, Shami, Siraj, Bumrah, they know exactly what is expected and how they want to go about doing that stuff. And the same for the spinners as well.”

Cummins is certainly aware of the enormity of the challenge awaits his team, especially with the form that Shami is currently in.

“They are pretty well-rounded in all departments. They've got five guys that bowl 10 overs pretty much every match. I think their spinners have done well through the middle overs, Kuldeep and Jadeja, so they're going to be a tough proposition like they always are.

“But you know, the one guy that 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 armers, so yeah, he's going to be a big one but again that these are guys we’ve played a lot – so all our batters can draw in moments where they've taken on these bowlers and done well.”

A fascinating contest is certainly on the horizon between two great rivals of world cricket.

The match is scheduled to start at 10:30am (SA time) and will be televised live on SuperSport.

Images courtesy ICC World Cup