India Eye Revenge Against Australia in ICC Knockout Game

India and Australia are set to face off in the ICC knockout game, with the Indian team looking to avenge their heartbreaking loss in the 2023 World Cup final. The Australian team, however, has undergone significant changes since then, with the absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc leaving them with less venom.

India's bowling depth is formidable, with the likes of Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav providing a strong spin attack. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium track is expected to favor spinners, making this game India's to lose.

Rohit Sharma's side has been in good form, with the batsmen performing well. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya have been among the runs, providing a major boost to India's chances. However, there are concerns about Virat Kohli's form against Adam Zampa, and Rohit Sharma's struggles against left-arm pacers.

Australia, on the other hand, will miss the services of Cummins and Starc, but Travis Head has a strong record against India. The team will need to decide whether to include an extra spinner or pacer, with Chakaravarthy being an impact player.

Probable XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy

Australia: Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Head-to-Head

Australia lead India 84-57 in ODIs, but since 2020, the two teams have been evenly matched, with India winning 7-7 in ICC ODI competitions.

Key Stats

• Rohit Sharma is the only player with 1000-plus runs in Overs 1-10 in ODIs since 2023.
• Travis Head has a superior strike-rate (130.48) among players with 100 runs in Overs 1-10 in ODIs since 2023.

When: March 4, 13:00 Local, 14:30 IST
Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium