Ahmedabad (Gujarat): The ICC World Cup Final will be played between hosts India and five-time champions Australia at the world's largest stadium - Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The Rohit Sharma-led India, which is unbeaten in the tournament, will go out all guns blazing against the formidable Australian attack. It will be a battle between the Indian top order and Australian pacers led by left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.
- 1.15 pm
The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is gearing up for the toss which will happen in the next few minutes. He along with his Australian counterpart will be in the middle with the match officials. Pitch report is being presented to the gathering from the middle by former India cricketer Ravi Shastri anchoring it.
- 12.30 pm
The Indian cricket team arrives at the venue for the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 and will be aiming to put an end to the long wait for lifting the trophy after 12 years. They are in brilliant form lately and will like to exploit the advantage of playing in familiar conditions in the grand finale.
Indian cricket fans offer milk to the posters of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the final in Pune.
Cheteshwar Pujara also wished the Indian team to get the cup home with a stellar show in the final against Australia.
A huge crowd has flocked to the stadium for the marquee clash as two strong opponents are going to battle for the title. The audience have gathered in huge numbers at the entry gates of the stadium.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar arrived in Ahmedabad for the marquee clash and extended his good wishes to the Men in Blue.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar arrived in Ahmedabad for the marquee clash and extended his good wishes to the Men in Blue. Upon arrival in the city, Tendulkar, who has numerous records to his name and was part of the World Cup winning 2011 India team told reporters, "I have come here to extend my good wishes. Hopefully, we will lift the trophy today. Everyone was waiting for this day..."
A lot of the former cricketers are pouring in their wishes for the Indian team. Madan Lal wished the national side while former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has also wished that India would lift the trophy tonight.
Former Australia players Adam Gilchrist, Belinda Clarke, Matthew Hayden and Jason Gillespie among others have sent their best wishes to the Pat Cummins led side for the all-important clash at the Motera. They have shared their thoughts in a video message posted by Cricket Australia. Australia is eying their sixth World Cup title, having earlier won in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.
Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, who was part of the 1983 World Cup winning Indian team, will most likely speak to the two captains - Rohit Sharma and Pay Cummins at the toss amid the sea of blues. Shastri, who was also the team director and head coach in the past has witnessed several iconic moments of the Indian Cricket Team. Shastri, who is a well-known commentator, was on air when India won the coveted Trophy in 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium and World Cup winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed the World Cup winning six off former Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara over his head at the South Mumbai Stadium on April 2, 2011.
There are four players to take four-wicket hauls in WC final - West Indies pacer Joel Garner, Australia's Gary Glimour, Legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warner and West Indies pacer Keith Boyce. One of the bowlers from both sides will have an opportunity to add his name in the list today.
Virat Kohli will become the sixth Indian cricketer to appear in 2 ODI World Cup finals. The other Indian players who have appeared in two ODI World Cup finals - batting great Sachin Tendulkar, former India swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, former India offspinner Harbhajan Singh and former India pacer Zaheer Khan Kohli played his first ICC ODI Cricket World Cup final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011. He will play his second when he takes the field later in the day.
India's squad in three WC finals
India's playing XI in the 2011 WC final v Sri Lanka: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain and Wicket-keeper), Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, S Sreesanth, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.
India's playing XI in the 2003 WC final v Australia: Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Rahul Dravid (Wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Dinesh Mongia, Ashish Nehra, Virender Sehwag, Javagal Srinath, Sachin Tendulkar, and Yuvraj Singh.
India's playing XI in the 1983 WC final v West Indies: Kapil Dev (Captain), Syed Kirmani (Wicketkeeper), Mohinder Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Sunil Gavaskar, Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Kris Srikkanth and late Yashpal Sharma
18 November - A day before the grand finale
On the final eve ahead of the marquee clash between India and Australia, best wishes flooded for the hosts as they will have a chance to win the ODI World Cup for the third time in the tournament's history. Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created sand art on the beach in Puri to wish team India good luck. India pacer Mohammed Shami's mother Anjum Ara told reporters that she wished to see India win the trophy. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also uploaded a message on social media for the same
However, the highlight of the day was the BCCI announcement for a special programme before the match, during the mid-innings break and drinks break as well. The final will start with the Suryakiran IAF Airshow by the Indian Air Force. Also, some artists will perform on the matchday and there will be a laser show as well.
