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'They've Been The Best in the Tournament...': Mitchell Starc On IND vs AUS WC 2023 

image-lp2566rbMitchell Starc (Twitter)

Mitchell Starc acknowledged the magnitude of Australia's task ahead of the ultimate face-off against India for the ICC World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday (November 19). 

As the two arch-rivals collide for the biggest glory in world cricket in front of a packed 1,30,000-capacity crowd at the Motera Stadium, the experienced left-arm quick spoke about the challenge of facing the numero uno side of the tournament. 

Starc is aware of the litmus test coming up of an Australian side that has played rather unconvincing cricket in the World Cup but stuttered to eight consecutive wins now, including a close-fought semifinal versus South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday (November 16). 

Up against them, however, will be the Men In Blue striving to continue their impeccable run in an excellent campaign that has witnessed nine straight league-stage triumphs and a comprehensive victory in the semifinal against New Zealand. 

Starc Embraces India Challenge Ahead Of World Cup Final 

Speaking at the post-match press conference after the thrilling victory over the Proteas at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Starc wore an embraceful outlook at the prospect of facing the strongest Indian side for a World Cup final clash in the grand setting of Ahmedabad. 

"They've been the best in the tournament so far, and we both find ourselves in the finals. We played them in our first game of the tournament; now we get to take them on in the last. What a place to be at the end of a World Cup."

India defeated Australia in their opening match of the competition in Chennai but the pressure of a marquee final will pose a completely different challenge for Rohit Sharma's men. There is history staked against them, too, having infamously lost the 2003 World Cup final to Ricky Ponting's prime Aussie troops in Johannesburg - a defeat that a generation of cricket lovers in India want the team to avenge 20 years later. 

"It's a big occasion, it's a World Cup final. Guys in both changing rooms have been there before in different formats. Both teams played each other in the (World Test Championship) Final earlier in the year. I don't think either changing room is new to big occasions. It's going to be loud. No doubt there's going to be different amounts of pressure at different times on both teams. I think it's just going to be a great spectacle of cricket," Starc added.