Rohit Sharma gets India off to a strong start
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India take on Australia in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final on Sunday, in a bid to win their first major ICC global event since 2011.
Australia have historically enjoyed the most success in the tournament, and Pat Cummins’ men have reached the nations’ eighth ODI World Cup final with a hard-fought win over South Africa.
India however go into the match as firm favourites having blown away all competition throughout the tournament, they went through the nine group matches unbeaten and then in the semi-finals eased past against New Zealand, with an impressive performance with both bat and ball.
The stage is set, and it will be a major one, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad can hold 132,000, almost all of whom will be cheering for India, which could weigh heavily on their shoulders, although they have not shown any indication of being burdened by the weight of a nation throughout the tournament so far.
Rohit Sharma and his team have a chance to write themselves into the history books, but first they will have to overcome an in-form Australia who have shown grit and determination since they lost to India in the group stages, including a memorable Glenn Maxwell-inspired victory over Afghanistan.
Follow all the live action below and get the latest odds and tips here.
India host Australia in a bid to win first major ICC trophy since 2011
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Wicket! Rohit out for 47! ct Head b Maxwell – India 76-2
Maxwell has continued, and he has been hit for a big six down the ground, that went high and dropped into the stands.
He follows it up with a four, but is out next ball!
Rohit came down the pitch but didn’t quite get hold of it, Travis Head had to cover a lot of ground to take a diving catch after running backwards, that is a huge breakthrough for Australia!
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 09:15
India 66-1 (9) Rohit 37, Kohli 23, Cummins 0-4 (1)
Cummins has brought himself on to bowl, Warner had to be alert in the deep to cut off another boundary, but the captain has started well.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 09:14
India 61-1 (8) Rohit 35, Kohli 21, Maxwell 0-7 (1)
Maxwell has been brought into the attack for the first time, he has tried to turn it but it has just come on nicely, and Rohit has put that away comfortably.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 09:09
India 54-1 (7) Rohit 33, Kohli 16, Starc 1-29 (4)
Kohli has his first boundary from the first ball of the over from Starc.
The next ball has been nailed through backward point for another boundary, this has been a great start, and the crowd are all cheering his name.
He follows it up with another four, this time drilled through cover with expert timing.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 09:05
India 40-1 (6) Rohit 32, Kohli 3, Hazlewood 0-25 (3)
Hazlewood has been much tighter this over, Kohli has struggled to get the ball away.
The number three clips it into the leg side but straight to Warner at midwicket.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 09:00
India 37-1 (5) Rohit 31, Kohli 1, Starc 1-15 (3)
The wicket has not affected Rohit though, he has another six down the ground, and India – despite the wicket – are off to a flyer.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 08:56
Wicket! Gill out for 4! ct Zampa b Starc – India 30-1
Australia have their first wicket! It was a poor shot from Gill, just shoveled to Zampa.
Starc will take that, but it’s not the wicket they want, Rohit has been the one inflicting all the damage.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 08:52
India 30-0 (4) Rohit 25, Gill 4, Hazlewood 0-22 (2)
Rohit hits one that just bounces short of Head in the deep, it was a shorter ball from Hazlewood.
And he has his first six, that was a poor delivery from the Australian bowler, the first six of the game and he follows it up with a four along the ground straight back past the bowler.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 08:50
Australia 18-0 (3) Rohit 14, Gill 3, Starc 0-8 (2)
Gill has edged his first ball of the innings and it has fallen just short of slip, that was not a slower ball either, the bowler can’t believe it.
Starc has tried to angle it across to Gill, and was almost rewarded, but he has tried to bowl inswingers to Rohit and try and cramp him.
Rohit has gone for a big shot, and it flies over the infield but has been stopped on the boundary by the wide third man.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 08:44
India 13-0 (2) Rohit 13, Gill 0, Hazlewood 0-10 (1)
Australia have been on it in the field so far, they have dived to cut off runs exactly as they did in the semi-final and there was another one by Zampa the first ball of the second over.
Rohit has his first boundary, he has come down the pitch and smashed Hazlewood to the off-side that was an amazing shot.
A little bit short the next ball and it’s back to back boundaries, the next one is into the gap in the leg side.
The final ball of the over he goes for another big shot but misses it and the ball narrowly missed off stump.
Sonia Twigg19 November 2023 08:40