As the anticipation builds for the World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has confidently asserted that they are well-acquainted with the Indian team.
Hazlewood, reflecting on their previous encounters, mentioned that despite losing the opening match of the tournament to India, the Australian team has played them numerous times, gaining an in-depth understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
“We’ve played them a lot of times. We know them inside out, same with them,” Hazlewood remarked about the familiarity between the two teams. Despite India’s convincing victory in their first encounter, Hazlewood expressed confidence in the Australian team’s knowledge of the Indian side.
Acknowledging India’s quality and their impressive march through the tournament, Hazlewood mentioned that the Indian team has showcased no real weaknesses. He is eagerly looking forward to the final showdown on Sunday, expecting a tough but thrilling battle against a formidable opponent.
Reflecting on the diverse conditions across India’s cricket grounds, Hazlewood highlighted the adaptability factor. He noted that the beauty of playing in a country with a variety of grounds is the need to adapt bowling and batting strategies to different conditions. Hazlewood emphasized how the pitch in Chennai had revealed some vulnerabilities for India, providing Australia with an opportunity to capitalize on early breakthroughs.
“I guess that’s the beauty of having so many grounds in one country that – from north to south, east to west – they’re all a little bit different. You adapt your bowling, adapt your batting to those conditions and we saw tonight it really spun and for us it nipped around early,” he added.
“We played England at Ahmedabad and the wicket was pretty good without being an absolute flat track, so I expect probably something similar to that.”
As the two cricketing giants prepare to clash in the final, India seeks its first ICC trophy since 2013, while Australia aims to add a sixth trophy to its cabinet. The final promises to be a gripping encounter, with both teams ready to showcase their skills and determination on the grand stage in Ahmedabad.
Also, see:
World Cup 2023 finalists decided
