How Can India Defeat Australia in WTC Final?

image-liisrzrpRohit Sharma ahead of the WTC Final (Twitter)

The stage is set for the ultimate Test as India and Australia gear up for the WTC Final starting on 7th of June, 2023. The much-awaited game will be played at the Kennington Oval, London and we can expect some intense action with two star-studded teams eyeing the biggest glory of the purest form of cricket.

India are playing their second WTC final while the Aussies are playing their first WTC final. The Kangaroos though are known to produce their best in the ICC finals while India in recent times have not been able to deliver that knockout punch in big games.

So, let us now see what India should do to defeat Australia in the WTC final 2023.

Good start by openers - key to success in England

English conditions are one of the most testing conditions for opening batters and Asian openers seem to always struggle in England. India won the 2007 Test series in England after the gap of 21 years and Indian openers played a big part in that win. Also, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul batted brilliantly in the 2021 England series which played a big role in India drawing that series.

Whereas, India were humiliated on other English tours like in 2011, 2014 where Indian openers could not provide solid starts. So, it is critical for India to not lose early wickets and expose the middle order against a brand new red cherry.

India need to be vary of 45 minutes of bad cricket

In last five years or so, India have been very competitive in overseas Tests. However, they tend to crumble drastically with the bat. It happened in the WTC final as well against New Zealand in 2021 where India crumbled from 149-3 to 217 all-out. Also, against the Aussies, India famously were bowled out for just 36 after India had an upper hand in that game with a lead in the first innings.

So, India need to show more application with the bat when they are under the pump and win those crucial moments in a Test match to outclass Aussies in a high-pressure environment of WTC final.

Don't allow Australian tail to wag

Indian cricket's perennial problem has been the bowling unit's inability to get rid of opposition team's tail quickly. On many occasions, this problem has caused India big time and India have lost some high-profile games because of it.

In the last WTC final against the Kiwis, India had New Zealand reeling at 162-6 but Jamieson and Southee added 51 off just 62 deliveries in testing conditions and took New Zealand to 249 which proved very costly in a low-scoring game with overcast conditions.

India have lost plenty of Tests because of this problem and the 2018 series in England was a classic example of it.

Aussies are also known for their fighting abilities and their tail would not be easy to dislodge in this big game, so Indian bowlers need to be at their A-game throughout this Test match.

Jadeja, the all-rounder Need to step up

India is facing a big dilemma ahead of the final with regard to their bowling combination. India might go with two spinners like they did in the last WTC final but if conditions demand, India might play only one spinner. In both the scenarios, Jadeja's all-round abilities will be very crucial.

He has done exceedingly well with the bat in recent times both in overseas and Indian conditions. In the last Test match he played at England, Jadeja scored a brilliant century under pressure and would be critical again for India with Pant missing in the lower-middle order. 

Also, he needs to chip in with the ball after the burst from the pacers and his overs can be crucial in terms of maintaining the pressure on Australian batters who seem to struggle against spin.