ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Final | Will India win? What Rohit Sharma can do to keep up the streak against Australia

A showpiece match at the 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium will also feature a pre-match fly-past by the IAF, as well as choreographed displays featuring dozens of dancers and light shows during the innings breaks.

It is a strange feeling that a World Cup is ending on the cusp of winter. Both the mercury and humidity have dipped in most parts of the country. People are comfortably stationed outside local electronic stores to catch a glimpse of the tournament. Somehow, there is a belief that India is supposed to win this World Cup as it could be the last one for stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Blending with the weather, the Indian cricket team has been operating in 'cool' mode. Rohit and Co. won 10 matches on the trot and are one shy of equalling Australia's record of 11 victories in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2003 in South Africa. It is a coincidence that India lost only two games in that World Cup, both to Australia, including the final, and won eight in a row.

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And this time, Pat Cummins' army won eight straight matches and will face India in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Aussies lost the group stage encounter against India in Chennai in the league phase of the Cup in October.

If you get a few wickets at the start, your spinners can become effective. It is crucial to provide a breakthrough at the right time. 

- Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal

The primary response to what India should do to maintain the winning streak is usually 'don't do anything different'. But parameters like the pitch, the weather, and - perhaps the most important one - mindset, matter. The earlier win over Australia is not too significant now. It wasn't a knockout punch, plus Australia were still finding their feet in the tournament.

Former India seamer and winner of the 1983 World Cup, Madan Lal, highlighted how big games are mind-dependent. "Finals are a different game, and it is anybody's game. How you handle pressure in a critical moment is the main thing. All these players have prepared for it. They know they are playing a final, and winning the World Cup is a lifetime opportunity," he told Moneycontrol.

India has the advantage of playing at home, so the conditions have not challenged them drastically. "They will be champions if they keep doing what they are doing," said Lal, who picked up 17 wickets, joint second-highest with Ashantha de Mel of Sri Lanka, in the 1983 World Cup.

'Bowlers win you championships'

Lal lauded the Indian bowling department, especially the pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumah and Mohammed Siraj, and said they would make a difference. "They are bowling a good line and moving the ball within the stump. They have become more dangerous. If you get a few wickets at the start, your spinners can become effective. It is crucial to provide a breakthrough at the right time. It is more important than ending up with five or six wickets. You can end up with two scalps but still be the game-changer.

"The wickets here are not easy to bowl. We know the batters will score runs, but you win if you get the opponent out. Bowlers win you championships. Australia won the World Cup five times, and they have had pacers like Glenn McGrath. Two-time winners West Indies had Michael Holding and Sir Andy Roberts. If your bowlers do well, you will win the World Cup," said Lal, who had dismissed Sir Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes and Larry Gomes in the iconic final at Lord's 40 years ago.

KL Rahul has been rocking as a wicketkeeper who can bat, or a batter who can keep, both ways.

- Former Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia

There's another parallel to the 2003 World Cup: KL Rahul, a backup wicketkeeper, took up the job full-time this year after Rishabh Pant's car accident forced him out of action. The story is similar to that of Rahul Dravid donning the gloves in the 2003 World Cup, and also serving as Sourav Ganguly's deputy. KL Rahul is Rohit's deputy in 2023.

Rahul registered 16 dismissals in 10 innings before the final. He took 15 catches and got the batter stumped once. The Indian vice-captain has a chance to catch up with Quinton de Kock of South Africa (20 dismissals), the top stumper of the tournament. With the bat, he scored 386 runs, including a hundred and a fifty, at an average of 77.20.

Rahul averages 44.03 as a batter when he is not keeping wickets, and the average shoots up to 60.38 when he does. He perhaps watches the ball better after following the line and length of every bowler on a regular basis from behind. Former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, the semifinalist of the 1996 World Cup held in the subcontinent, praised Rahul for his all-round skills. "KL has been outstanding. His mindset, thought process, work ethics have gone into this World Cup. He has been rocking as a wicketkeeper who can bat, or a batter who can keep, both ways," said Mongia, who finished his ODI career with 154 dismissals.

Dismiss Head, Warner, Smith

Mongia believes Australia doesn't pose a threat like the teams of the yesteryears. "I don't think they are a threat, but on a given day, any team can be a threat for anyone. We saw in the semi-final how they struggled against spinners to chase 213. Their middle-order, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, is struggling. Big-hitter Marcus Stoinis is not playing all games. It's just Glenn Maxwell once in a blue moon. But the top-order has been great with David Warner and Travis Head.

"I don't find any weak points in this Indian team. Five bowlers are causing all the dismissals, so you don't need a sixth bowler. And the batting, fielding and captaincy has been outstanding," he added.

India will be wary of Josh Hazlewood, who had reduced the Men in Blue to 3/3 in the league stage. If not for the 165-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli and Rahul, India would have been in trouble that night. And then, there is leg-spinner Adam Zampa, the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 22 wickets, just one behind Shami.

Glenn Maxwell, the double centurion against Afghanistan, has a strike-rate of 134 against the Indians and averages 34.85. Maxwell has struggled against the likes of Ravindra Jadeja in the IPL, which augurs well for India.

We are ready for anything. I am getting goosebumps looking at Virat Kohli.

- Strength and conditioning coach Basu Shanker

The man responsible for keeping the entire country united with his temperament is Kohli. The former India captain is scoring fifties and hundreds for fun. Kohli anchored the batting department and smashed his 50th ODI hundred, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. He will be eyeing a bigger one in the final.

Renowned strength and conditioning coach Basu Shanker, who worked with Team India till the ICC World Cup in 2019, feels India has become invincible. "This is the best Indian side I have ever seen. They will win the World Cup. We don't lack in any department. It is the strongest Indian team ever. All the years of hard work will yield fruit. We are ready for anything. I am getting goosebumps looking at Virat," said Shanker.

This Indian team resembles the Australian side under Ricky Ponting. If the top order fails, the middle-order fires and if batters struggle to put up a big total, the bowlers can clean up the opponents with a smile. They will be remembered, irrespective of win or loss.

Records that can be broken

Rohit Sharma (550 runs) can break Kane Williamson's record of 578 runs in 2019 (the most in a single World Cup edition by a captain)

Virat Kohli (1741 runs in four World Cups) needs three more runs to overtake Ricky Ponting (1743 runs) as the second-highest run-getter in Cup history, after Sachin Tendulkar (2278 runs).

India can equal Australia's record of 11 wins in a row in a single World Cup edition, if they win.