NEW DELHI: As Australia bowlers fired in unison, Team India got bundled out for a modest 240 in the World Cup final against Australia at the world's biggest stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Pacer Mitchell Starc led from the front with his three-for as the Aussies kept chipping away at regular intervals, never allowing India to build a decent enough stand.
Although KL Rahul and Virat Kohli scored fifties, it was a tough wicket to bat on as Pat Cummins and co. exploited the conditions superbly after winning a crucial toss.
However, with India bowlers being in superb form, the chase might not be a cake walk for Australia.
The pacers trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami will be key with the new ball as India will need early wickets to build pressure on the Aussies while chasing.
To go with that, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja too will have to utilize the slowness of the surface to their advantage.
Former cricketer turned commentator Akaash Chopra also backed the India bowlers to do the job in the summit clash.
On a track where stroke-making became extremely difficult with each passing over, KL Rahul's composed 66 off 107 was worth its weight in gold but he would have ideally liked to bat till the end having done the hard grind.
The degree of difficulty could be gauged by the fact that the Indians managed only 13 fours in the entire innings, apart from the three sixes hit by skipper Rohit Sharma.
The Indian team would hope that it won't be any easier for batting when Australia begin their chase as dew could make life difficult for the home team bowlers.
Otherwise, on a track where the ball is gripping Jadeja and Kuldeep could be very difficult to get away, after the three Australian spinners (Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head) collectively gave away only 83 runs in their 18 overs with two wickets.
(With inputs from PTI)
