WTC Final 2023: Six Player Battles To Watch Out For
India will take on Australia in the WTC final [Source: Twitter]
On Wednesday, India and Australia will cross swords against each other in the much-anticipated World Test Championship final. As both teams are studded with some superstars, we expect a cracking battle at the Kennington Oval in England.
Meanwhile, there are some on-field battles that can decide the outcome of this match. As both teams gear up to take on each other, let's find out six such player battles to watch out for.
6) David Warner vs Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj [Source: Twitter]
Despite being a proven match-winner, David Warner has been struggling with his form for quite a while now. The dynamic left-handed batter could be vulnerable against Mohammed Siraj, who has dismissed him twice in Test cricket.
David Warner vs Mohammed Siraj: 36 runs, 2 dismissals, average: 18
5) Cheteshwar Pujara vs Nathan Lyon
Whenever India and Australia take on each other, the on-field contest between Cheteshwar Pujara and Nathan Lyon takes centerstage. While Pujara averages an impressive 43.8, Lyon has dismissed the Indian batter thirteen times in Tests.
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Nathan Lyon: 570 Runs, 13 Dismissals, Average: 43.8
4) Marnus Labuschagne vs Mohammed Shami
Marnus Labuschagne in action [Source: Twitter]
Since making his Test debut, Marnus Labuschagne has been the backbone of the Australian batting lineup in Test cricket. However, the gritty right-handed batter from Queensland will be thoroughly tested by ace Indian speedster Mohammed Shami, who has dismissed him twice in the purest format.
Marnus Labuschagne vs Mohammed Shami: 57 Runs, 2 dismissals, Average: 28.5
3) Shubman Gill vs Mitchell Starc
Gill holds a stunning record vs Starc [Source: Twitter]
Shubman Gill's rise in international cricket has been exceptional, to say the least. After hammering truckloads of runs in ODIs, the stylish batter from Punjab recently had a prolific IPL season, garnering 890 runs at a blistering strike rate.
Gill could be the biggest threat to veteran Australian seamer Mitchell Starc, as he has smashed him for 130 runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 92.9 in Test cricket.
Shubman Gill vs Mitchell Starc: 140 Balls, 130 Runs, 0 dismissal, SR: 92.9
2) Steve Smith vs R Ashwin
The battle between these two stalwarts would be fascinating, as both won't give an inch to each other. While Steve Smith will try his best to sustain his dominance over India, Ashwin will test him with his subtle variations.
Steve Smith vs R Ashwin: 434 Runs, 8 Dismissals, Average: 54.2
1) Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins
Cummins has dismissed Kohli 5 times in Tests [Source: Twitter]
As India will be up against Australia, the focus will be on the two biggest names- Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins. It's the WTC final in the UK; there can't be a bigger occasion for these two players to showcase their skills for the umpteenth time.
While India will rely on Kohli to emerge as their saviour against the moving ball, Australia would like Cummins to bamboozle the Indian talisman, as he has done five times in the past.
Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins: 82 Runs, 5 Dismissals, Average: 16.4
 "Debashis Sarangi")