Australia have their work cut out to hold off Sharma’s unbeatable India

India have won 10 out of 10 matches in this World Cup, beating everyone by large margins with the exception of New Zealand in their group match, which India won by just four wickets.  

Australia lost their opening two matches but have won all eight matches since then. Both teams in the final have powerful and adventurous batters who aren’t afraid to hit sixes from early in their innings.

India skipper Sharma leads the sixes list with 28 this World Cup, followed by India’s Iyer and Australia’s Warner with 24 sixes apiece. Glenn Maxwell is fourth on the list with 22 sixes. 

Although Australia have shown incredible resolve to come from behind to claim some sensational wins, India have been far more consistent and reliable with the bat, as can be seen by the stats. 

Kohli (711 runs) heads the runs list by more than 100 runs ahead of second-placed De Kock (594 runs). Fifth-placed Sharma (550) and seventh-placed Iyer (526) have been the backbone behind Kohli’s sensational batting, backed by Rahul (386) and Gill (350).   

Warner (528 runs) is Australia’s leading run-scorer and is in sixth place on the runs list. Marsh (426) is in ninth place and Maxwell (398) in 12th, but their next best batters are in 29th and 31st spot on the runs list - Labuschagne (304) and Smith (298).

India have four bowlers in the top 12 list of wicket-takers  (Shami, Bumrah, Jadeja and Yadav), each with 15-plus wickets, while Australia only have one, Adam Zampa.

But perhaps what sets the two sides apart most is economy rates and averages. 

India have five bowlers in the top seven list of best economy rates, while Australia have just one in the top 10 (Hazlewood). Excluding Sharma and Kohli, India have five bowlers in the list of top 12 bowling averages, with Shami (9.13) leading the pack. Zampa (21.40) is the only Australian on that list.

In their group match at the start of the World Cup, India handed Australia a six-wicket hammering, after India restricted Australia to 199 off 49.3 overs, with none of the Aussies passing 50. 

Australia fought back into the match brilliantly, reducing India to three wickets down with just two runs on the board, with Sharma, Kishan and Iyer all back in the hut with ducks against their name. India stamped their class on the match, with Kohli (85) and Rahul (97*) adding 164 for the fourth wicket. 

The two teams are the rightful finalists, as both have incredible batting power and bowling fire. The batters on both sides hold the key to a final blessed with huge scores on both sides, although both bowling units also hold the potential to knock-over their opponents’ top-order if the wicket suits them.

Either way, it promises to be a sensational World Cup final!