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Ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023 final showdown between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday (November 19), captains of both sides Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins have provided respective insights into the nature of the pitch.
The pitch selected for the summit clash was last in action during India’s encounter against Pakistan in the ongoing global showpiece event last month, a game that the team led by Rohit dominated to secure a comprehensive victory.
Rohit Sharma’s take on the pitch
Addressing the media in the pre-match press conference, Rohit offered valuable insights into the nature of the pitch. Drawing from the experience of the last game against Pakistan, The 36-year-old noted a noticeable shift in the pitch dynamics. While it was considerably drier in the previous encounter, the surface now boasts a discernible layer of grass. However, Rohit was quick to downplay the significance of the toss, suggesting that it won’t be the sole determining factor in the final outcome.
“There’s a bit of grass on the track. The wicket from India vs Pakistan was a lot drier. From my understanding, it’s going to be on a slower side. We’ll see the pitch tomorrow and assess. The temperature has dropped a bit as well. I don’t know how much of a factor the dew will be. I don’t think the toss will play a big role,” Rohit said.
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Pat Cummins’ evaluation of the pitch
Australia’s captain, Cummins, also provided his perspective on the surface, deeming it a ‘pretty good wicket.’
“Again, I’m not a great pitch reader, but it looked pretty firm. They’ve only just watered it, so yeah, give it another 24 hours and have a look, but it looks like a pretty good wicket. Yes, it has been used before. Pakistan played someone (India on October 14) there,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Final showdown between India and Australia
This summit showdown features a rematch between the five-time champions, Australia, and the formidable Indian team, which had previously secured a convincing victory against the same opposition in their tournament’s opening fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 8.
