Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

CWC 2019 Match 14: Australia v India Preview Dream11. AUS vs IND Dream11 Prediction

Yellow vs. Blue. Two of the World Cup favourites. An incredible rivalry in world cricket has another chapter.

Australia and India have had a number of meetings across formats since last November. 17 in fact. While every international is a proud moment for players and fans, a World Cup match dials up the stakes just a little further. The Oval has played host to some good games so far this tournament. This, though, is comfortably its most high profile.

Australia played a get-out-of-jail card against West Indies. Reduced to 38/4, then 79/5, the Aussies’ depth, which many look at as a significant strength, was put to the test. Steve Smith was the glue and Nathan Coulter-Nile was the bullet out of the cannon, shocking the Windies into a run-chase that did not originally look on the cards. Mitchell Starc then helped finish the job, but Australia’s short ball troubles, which has caught the attention of Ricky Ponting, has to be improved upon.

India will now really look to launch their World Cup campaign into gear. A long wait to begin their campaign was not an issue, with Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Rohit Sharma leading India to a comfortable win over South Africa. Victims of a 3-2 loss at home to the Aussies earlier this year, something Virat Kohli certainly wouldn’t forget, the Indians will want to extract some revenge in what is a huge occasion. Will it be they who remain unbeaten in CWC 2019?

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Key to an Australia win

If Australia’s top order, bar Steve Smith, dishes out what they did vs West Indies on Thursday, it is lights out. The Windies’ lack of strike following their new ball pairing, as well as lack of attacking spin option, is something India have in their armoury. So, Australia need a good start – particularly Aaron Finch against a fine Indian new-ball pairing, with David Warner also delivering for Australia. How Australia play the short ball in the powerplay, as well as India’s fantastic spin-duo in the middle overs will be crucial to the result. So, onus will be on Steve Smith to bat long again. The key question is: will the Windies’ game on Thursday prove to be a wake up call to the likes of Usman Khawaja, or is it something of deeper concern?

Also, can Australia make inroads into India’s top three? Rohit Sharma, outstanding against South Africa, can be a shaky starter. Shikhar Dhawan is in need of runs, and we don’t need to explain the kind of impact Virat Kohli can have. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will be tasked with dismissing at least two of the top three, enabling Australia to apply pressure to the Indian middle order. Then, can Australia maintain the pressure through Adam Zampa, Coulter-Nile and the all-rounders?

WATCH: GAME PLAN – The talented Sparsh explores how to overcome Mitchell Starc

Key to an India win

It was a thoroughly professional display by India against South Africa. Jasprit Bumrah was electric, Bhuvneshwar Kumar steady and the wristspin duo dynamic in the middle overs. It was the total bowling display India – the kind that they will be out to repeat against an Australian side that showed cracks against West Indies. Can Jasprit Bumrah find success with changes of length? Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar continue his success against Aaron Finch? How well can India target Usman Khawaja? If India can find the success the Windies did, they have the resources to dial up the pressure further on Australia’s middle-late order that saved Australia on Thursday.

Also read: 15 funny cricket tweets from week one of CWC 2019!

Also, while India possess talent and experience in their middle order, much still rests on their top three to fire. Rohit Sharma was the man last time out, but can he overcome some historical troubles he has had against left-arm seam? Is this the day Shikhar Dhawan fires, against a favourable opponent? A strong opening stand sets the tone for Virat Kohli to play with freedom. So too the middle order, who will want to build on a great platform instead of playing under pressure trying to set one.

Pitch and conditions

Conditions at The Oval are expected to be good for the day. The pitch so far in this tournament has proven good for batting, with England and Bangladesh registering 300+ totals on this ground.

Possible Playing 11

Usman Khawaja’s dismissal against West Indies was concerning. However, he plays the team in which he enjoyed great success earlier this year, albeit in different conditions. Also, Nathan Coulter-Nile said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if he gets dropped after two wicket-less outings. However, his magnificent 92 against West Indies shows how important he can be as an all-round option.

Australia: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. David Warner, 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9. Pat Cummins, 10. Mitchell Starc, 11. Adam Zampa

WATCH: GAME PLAN – The talented Sparsh explores how to overcome Mitchell Starc

India should stick with the same team that comfortably beat South Africa.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. KL Rahul, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Kedar Jadhav, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Dream11 Prediction

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Option 1:

WATCH: GAME PLAN – The talented Sparsh explores how to overcome Mitchell Starc

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head in World Cups: Matches 11, Australia 8, India 3.
• Australia won the last World Cup meeting against India, winning the 2015 Semi Final by 95 runs.
• India beat Australia 2-1 in Australia in January. Australia then returned serve, winning 3-2 in India in March.
• Australia have won their last 10 ODIs.
• India have won nine of its past 14 matches against Australia.

Match Prediction

What a match this promises to be, and what a difficult one to predict.

Both teams possess outstanding players, capable of changing the game in their team’s favour. Heart says Australia, but their response to the short-ball barrage from West Indies will be key to see. Also, a key edge India might have is in the middle overs with their excellent wrist-spinners.

India to win in a tight game.

Also, be sure check out my series of “five key talking points” from every CWC 2019 match! The latest:

Australia v West Indies: Coulter-Nile for PM!

India v South Africa: India start with a win + why I say sorry to SA fans!

Download: Making cricket an interactive experience! Discover Harrison Cricket Apps ODI version.

Thanks for reading!