IND vs AUS T20 World Cup 2024: Here’s all you need to know about the pitch report, weather conditions, team news, squad, head to head, path to semifinals and result in case of a washout.
Seven months after losing to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad, India has a chance to seek revenge by potentially eliminating their rivals from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The crucial Super Eights match in Saint Lucia on Monday will determine if India stays atop Group 1 and pushes Australia to the third spot, jeopardizing their tournament run.
For Rohit Sharma’s team, a victory would mean maintaining their unbeaten record and leaving Australia’s fate dependent on the outcome of the later match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Australia, captained by Mitchell Marsh, faces a stern test against one of the only two undefeated teams in the tournament.
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Despite facing challenging situations with both bat and ball, India has emerged unscathed thus far. They are keen to uphold this streak against Australia, who previously defeated them in a high-stakes World Cup final. India’s bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, emphasizes focusing on their own strategy rather than the opposition’s, but fans can expect an intense showdown.
“Our focus is on executing our plans. If we do that, we can advance further in the tournament,” Mhambrey stated on Saturday. On the other side, Australia’s bowling coach, Andrew McDonald, stressed the importance of optimal performance against India, acknowledging the pressure of the tournament’s latter stages.
“We need to be at our best against India,” McDonald said, highlighting the critical nature of net run rates and the challenges posed by the tournament’s closing stages. Australia knows they must win to keep their semifinal hopes alive, as a loss would likely see them relying on the outcome of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh game.
Here’s how the teams can qualify:
India’s Path to Semifinals:
- A win ensures qualification.
- A narrow loss still likely secures their spot due to a high net run rate.
- A significant loss could jeopardize their chances, depending on net run rate.
Australia’s Path to Semifinals:
- A win is essential to stay in contention.
- A loss, combined with an Afghanistan win, would eliminate them.
- Net run rate becomes crucial if both Australia and Afghanistan lose.
In case of a washout:
Both teams receive a point, securing India’s top position with five points.
Australia, with three points, would need a Bangladesh victory over Afghanistan to progress.
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
The Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium has been conducive to high-scoring matches.
Weather could play a significant role, with rain and thunderstorms forecasted, potentially delaying or interrupting play.
Head-to-Head:
India and Australia have clashed in 31 T20 internationals, with India leading 19-11 and one match yielding no result. In T20 World Cups, India holds a 3-2 advantage over Australia.
Current Form:
India remains unbeaten, excelling in tight situations thanks to their lower-order batters and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia aims to bounce back after a loss to Afghanistan in their second Super Eights match.
Team News:
Australia:
Likely to favor a spin-heavy lineup, with Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa potentially featuring heavily.
Squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), David Warner, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, and Nathan Ellis.
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India:
Expected to retain their successful XI.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj