India will take on Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at The Oval in London, England from June 7 (Wednesday) to June 11 (Sunday).
Over the last two years, various countries have battled it out with one another in multiple Test series, now two remain to decide who will win this year's WTC Final.
Australia qualified for this match by leading the WTC table with 152 points, while India qualified for their second consecutive WTC Final by finishing just below the Aussies on the table with 127 points.
India and Australia have faced one another 106 times with Australia having the jump on India with 44 wins, while the latter has won 32 games. There have been 29 draws and one tie between the two sides as well.
What has happened in the WTC Final 2023?
Australia are currently in the driver's seat in the World Test Championship Final after putting up 469 in the first innings, thanks to tons from Travis Head and Steve Smith.
They went to reduce India to 151/5 at the end of Day 2 and will now be looking to gain a sizeable first-innings lead.
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Here is a comprehensive guide on the pitch report, live toss, predicted lineups and team news as India take on Australia.
WTC Final 2023: Australia vs India Day 3 pitch report
The pitch is showing signs of deterioration already with around 12 wickets falling on the previous day. India have an uphill task ahead of them if they are to even salvage a draw.
The pitch is expected to produce assistance to the Aussie bowlers throughout the day but it won't be that bad for batting. Interestingly, Lyon should play a major role given that spin did have an effect late last night.
WTC Final 2023: Australia vs India Day 2 pitch report
The conditions at the start of day 2 are bright and looks like an ideal batting day today. The pitch at The Oval is expected to hold up under the sun and Travis Head and Steve Smith will look to make hay while the sun shines.
There is a bit of uneven bounce on the pitch which was accentuated on Day 1 under cloudy conditions but it is bright and shiny on Day 2. However, India will hope to take advantage of that uneven bounce.
WTC Final 2023: Australia vs India Day 1 pitch report
India and Australia will battle it out at The Oval in London, England. While it has generally been a high-scoring venue, due to England's unpredictable and erratic weather, often it's not easy to predict whether the pitch will favour batsmen or bowlers. As the pitch often becomes dry during the last two days of a Test game, which is ideal for spinners, teams opt to bat first to give themselves an advantage.
For the first Test in June at The Oval ever, there is 6mm of grass on the pitch. And it is cloudy overhead. Kumar Sangakkara says there will be both swing and seam. So I think India will go four quicks, and the side winning the toss is likely to bowl first.
IND vs AUS live toss
India win the toss. Choose to bowl first.
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IND vs AUS team news
IND: Ashwin is dropped in favour of Umesh Yadav due to pitch and weather conditions.
AUS: Australia have pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out with an injury. Lyon is part of the lineup as the Aussies' spin option.
IND vs AUS confirmed lineups
IND: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
AUS: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon
MORE: 'WTC final against India is our grand final,' says Nathan Lyon
