India vs Australia: World Cup rivalry renewed in Chennai opener

There is a creative TV commercial making the rounds where MS Dhoni, the captain of India's most recent 50-over World Cup winning team, is seen speaking on a cricket panel in what appears to be a news television studio. In the commercial, Dhoni cautions the other panelists against discussing Team India's chances at the ICC World Cup in 2023 for fear of ruining them. As the catchphrase goes, "Mat Bol" until India wins the Cup. Even the most ardent MSD supporters will start acting in the opposite way today, given how well it has been done. Everyone will. That's because Team India kicks off their campaign on Sunday in Chennai against their closest rivals, Australia, in what promises to be a spectacular confrontation.

In a one-way epic chase that saw reigning champions England defeated by a storming Kiwi batting approach, the 2019 finalists rung the opening bell. Six other nations have also shown off their talents in a competition that has so far featured some encouraging batting feasts, but all of that will be forgotten as the iconic Chepauk prepares to host what is undoubtedly world cricket's greatest rivalry, one that has featured some epics, particularly at the said venue.

graphic TTO

India has possibly the strongest top three players in Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, and Virat Kohli, but with Gill out with dengue, Ishan Kishan, whose sparkling blade has been in excellent condition, might get the opportunity to open the innings alongside Rohit. The middle order now has more muscle with to the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, to the point where even Suryakumar Yadav might be chilling his heels in the changing room.

India's go-to spinners in this lung-opener are probably three spinners on a "black soil" Chennai pitch that is certain to turn. It would be arguably a tragedy to not play the cunning R Ashwin, who has made a stirring return to the shorter format after rarely playing any in the past six years but is still devising new tricks by the hour. Ravindra Jadeja and a born-again (in white ball cricket) Kuldeep Yadav are automatic choices.

Although Jasprit Bumrah's protracted injury-related absence caused the nation to worry, his comeback and the form of Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami have been nothing short of positive developments for the team, even though only one of them is likely to join Bumrah with the new ball.

Rahul Dravid, the coach, will consider Hardik Pandya adding a new perspective in this situation. Pandya, who adds much-needed all-around heaviness, is the ideal third seamer when fully healthy and bowling at full speed. He also doubles as one of the most lethal finishers at the end.

Australians are hardly weaklings either. There are no indicators for this team in their most recent two ODI series losses to South Africa and India. The five-time champions, who are rife with tactical acumen and top-flight athletes, may have entered this competition a little under the radar, but they really come alive on matchday.

Seven members of the starting lineup are World Cup champions from 2015. While Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins received their medals for the team, David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc competed and defeated Brendon McCullum's New Zealand in the championship game.

Warner and Smith in particular have been in excellent form lately and would like to make this their farewell performance to remember. And the accomplished Mitch Marsh is a big-game hunting expert. He wouldn't need to look further than father Geoff for inspiration; the bowler is also a potent opener in the shorter format. The previous time the Australians met India at this location was in the 1987 World Cup, when Marsh Sr.'s century proved to be a tour de force as Allan Border's team wrote the screenplay for a fantastical victory.

While the squad waits for Travis Head to return from injury, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Marcus Stoinis provide enough batting weight.

The bowling, though, may be put to the test given the variety of settings the Australians will try to navigate in order to advance to the knockout rounds. The T20 World Cup was won by Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, but a 50-over battle of the batsmen is a very different animal. Interesting to note is that only Hazlewood has seemed to like bowling on Indian wickets, but the other two have seemed to be far from their best bowling here.

The Australians will need to manage their stocks effectively as the competition goes on because of the skeleton spin department, which will likely rely solely on Adam Zampa and a few part-timers.

With expectations already high and the typical fan wanting success at all costs, hosts India will look to the unmatched Rohit Sharma and the unrivaled modern-day great Virat Kohli to lead them to a repeat performance of 2011. The voyage begins today in Chennai, where they are met by the Australians.

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