AFP | ahmedabad, india
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and was chosen to bat first against unbeaten India in the World Cup final, to be played in front of 130,000 fans in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
There are no changes for either team in the clash at the world’s largest cricket stadium, with Australia playing their eighth final and aiming for their sixth title.
India won the World Cup in 1983 and again in 2011 on their own.
Rohit Sharma-led India have won all 10 matches in the tournament and retain the winning eleven that defeated New Zealand by 70 runs in the semi-final in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Rohit said he would have chosen to bat first had he won the toss.
As the crowd roared, Rohit said, “I would have batted first. It looks like a good pitch and it’s an important match. Let’s score runs.”
“It’s going to be great. It’s the biggest chance in terms of cricket events. We have to stay calm and get the job done.”
The hosts are looking to end their drought of world titles since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.
A hot-blooded player, Virat Kohli surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 tons in the semi-finals to score his 50th ODI century and lead the tournament’s batting average with 711 runs.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami topped the bowling list with 23 wickets in six matches.
Cummins announced the same team that won by three wickets in a tense semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday.
In the group stage, they lost to India by six wickets in the opening match and lost to South Africa by 134 runs, after which they won eight straight games.
“We wanted to bowl first because the wickets were looking a bit dry. Dew was one of the factors and it gets quite dewy at night at this venue,” Cummins said.
“I’m really proud of this group. We had a tough start to the tournament, but they haven’t missed a beat since.”
Australia defeated India in the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg.
team
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wkt), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohamed Shirazi
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (captain), Adam Zampa, Josh Inglis hazlewood
Referees: Richard Illingworth (English), Richard Kettleborough (English)
TV Referee: Joel Wilson (WIS)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)