DJ and Ashwin get together to preview the India vs. Australia #CWC23 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday 19 November 2023. Can Team India find glory at home to wrap up this Men's ODI Cricket World Cup undefeated, or will Australia break a billion hearts to lift the trophy for a record sixth time?
[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to another episode of The Edges and Sledges Cricket Podcast.
[00:00:18] This is a special unique episode, this is what we're calling a preview.
[00:00:22] Episode we are less than 24 hours from the finals of the Cricket World Cup 2023.
[00:00:28] I'm your host Ashwin, I'm joined by DJ and DJ.
[00:00:32] How are you doing?
[00:00:33] I know I've been feeling very nervous.
[00:00:35] Let me just start by how are you feeling on the eve of the World Cup finals?
[00:00:39] It feels like the day before the last board exam, right?
[00:00:45] So some of you who have done the Indian public school exams will know that feeling.
[00:00:51] When are you doing your board exams?
[00:00:53] So funnily enough in 2003 is when we did board exams, and you were in class 10.
[00:01:02] You were in class 12th, what I was in the 10th board so it's just wild.
[00:01:06] In the midst of that, of course we watched the last India Australia World Cup finals.
[00:01:13] This one, I mean it feels a little different and will come to that but there's no
[00:01:18] interest.
[00:01:19] Man, like I was speaking to my wife the other day and I was like don't you think the Indian
[00:01:23] players want this all to be over early quickly?
[00:01:26] Wouldn't their other just be out on the field instead of all the anticipation?
[00:01:29] I mean they've been sitting doing nothing since they won on Wednesday, right?
[00:01:32] Like what do they feel like?
[00:01:34] Are you okay?
[00:01:36] Why are you talking to me about this stuff?
[00:01:39] Are you worried about their well-being, their professional cricketers?
[00:01:42] Of course.
[00:01:43] Yeah but they're playing the big, some of them are playing the biggest match up their life.
[00:01:47] Shubman Gail, he's like, he probably doesn't know about the 2003 World Cup because he's
[00:01:51] that young, he was like three years old then.
[00:01:53] Yeah.
[00:01:54] Must be right?
[00:01:55] That's crazy.
[00:01:56] It's crazy.
[00:01:57] It's just crazy.
[00:01:58] There's so much unpack.
[00:01:59] I feel like I've been all the hype and chat has been about sort of the presumed victory
[00:02:06] for Team India which makes me more nervous because a lot of...
[00:02:11] I feel like if you're younger, this is not an old guy thing to say, oh the younger generation
[00:02:15] is in that but I feel like if you've watched Team India for to call it 10, 12 years, you
[00:02:20] haven't been through the pain quite as much.
[00:02:22] You haven't been through the 2003 World Cup.
[00:02:24] You haven't been to 1996 and learning of seats and you just haven't been through quite
[00:02:29] as much as us.
[00:02:30] So our generation is probably just a little bit more scarred and therefore much more nervous
[00:02:37] whereas a lot of people are saying 10 or 10 winning streak objectively clearly the best
[00:02:43] team in the tournament.
[00:02:44] Do you think we have those scars more than the younger generation?
[00:02:48] Of course.
[00:02:49] Yeah.
[00:02:50] Of course, we have those scars.
[00:02:51] We have those defeats that we've been through.
[00:02:53] You've talked about the burning of seats.
[00:02:55] I remember exactly where I was sitting in 1996 as a 11 year old when Sachin got stumped
[00:03:00] off his pad by Kalu with Rana and like I think it was 98 foot two and like there were
[00:03:08] like eight just went to 128 Eden Gardens burned.
[00:03:12] We saw Eden host another semifinal recently.
[00:03:14] It's probably the first one they've hosted since 1996.
[00:03:18] It's but then when the defeats were taken harder and we probably, when your younger the
[00:03:24] heart breaks are greater right?
[00:03:28] The victories we've obviously won in 2011, 2011.
[00:03:33] The win at the one K. Day probably the greatest moment in Indian history.
[00:03:37] The only cricket experience since 1983 and I've got it for those of you who can see, I've
[00:03:42] got a poster with Dhoni Finishes off in style in the background.
[00:03:46] What do we need to get you to frame based on how tomorrow goes?
[00:03:50] All right, let's deal with that when it comes, right?
[00:03:52] Show me!
[00:03:53] That's number eight.
[00:03:55] Number eight is either prediction.
[00:03:57] That's it if it takes it we're winning, right?
[00:03:59] I mean, that should have felt cathartic.
[00:04:02] That should have washed away the pain.
[00:04:05] It should have felt better winning three trophies in six years.
[00:04:09] But that first hard break really I think 2003 and I put out a tweet on Twitter which or
[00:04:16] X or put out an X on X, I don't know whatever something saying in 2003 we were the underdogs,
[00:04:23] right?
[00:04:24] Australia were the big dogs.
[00:04:26] They were the superpower.
[00:04:28] They had won, they had lost in the finals in 1996 show but they had won 99.
[00:04:32] They had gone unbeaten in 2003 that smashed us in the group game.
[00:04:37] Players effigies were being burnt, players houses were being attacked somehow we managed
[00:04:41] to win thing eight or nine game of the trot to get to the final.
[00:04:44] There was all the talk about a bowling attack.
[00:04:46] It was Jawagal Shrinath, Ashish Nehra, Zahir Khan.
[00:04:50] I mean you're just smiling thinking because that's what we've got.
[00:04:53] What the bowlers were going to go out attacking sort of Gangoli chucks, the coin up.
[00:04:58] I was also smiling because when Shami took his six, I don't know if you were watching this.
[00:05:05] Nasir was in the commentary box and whoever was with him brought up six for 23 and from Ashish
[00:05:10] Nehra and how Shami might out do it.
[00:05:12] It was just a great memory because Nasir was playing that game.
[00:05:14] So that was Durban right?
[00:05:15] And Nasir was playing and Nehra was sick after eating banana.
[00:05:19] These are all memories but that ended in...
[00:05:22] We were like, can India somehow do it?
[00:05:25] It would beaten Australia in a famous match in Nairobi.
[00:05:28] We'd won in 2002 in the Natwastro fee Gangoli brought in a new era but we were hoping against
[00:05:35] hope.
[00:05:36] Can this underdog team beat this all time great team?
[00:05:38] Yes, they didn't have Shane Vaughan.
[00:05:40] They didn't have Jason Gillespie but they still had enough.
[00:05:44] But that we won the toss.
[00:05:45] We chose to bowl first over full of adrenaline Zahir Khan pumped up runs and you wanted
[00:05:51] you to talk about what happened next like no ball five wide.
[00:05:55] Five wide right?
[00:05:56] I think that was sort of it.
[00:05:57] I'm trying to pull up as we speak what Vaughan said and he was reminiscing but he said
[00:06:03] Zahir bowled a wide for five first ball gave Hayden a stare and that was the game there
[00:06:08] itself.
[00:06:09] I mean they just...
[00:06:10] They just so much history right?
[00:06:12] And so you're sitting here with the team that has objectively been the best team this
[00:06:17] worked up and as much as I'm nervous and World Cup finals are different you kind of argue
[00:06:22] that to this point India has been the best team.
[00:06:25] They're at home, best batting, best bowling all of the ball against the team who just knows
[00:06:29] how to get this done.
[00:06:30] That's what this match is right?
[00:06:31] A five time world champions.
[00:06:33] A lot of naysayers I think I had them in my semi prediction.
[00:06:36] I think I may have had them in my final prediction and the specific thing I said is yes they
[00:06:39] look old, yes they're not or they are an old side, yes they haven't looked great but
[00:06:44] you can never write off five time world champions right?
[00:06:49] That's the truth and that's what they are.
[00:06:52] And so that's where the...
[00:06:53] I don't know the scars of 2003 yes we turned them around at the GABA, we've had moments
[00:06:59] in Test cricket with the team India showed up.
[00:07:04] I'm at a bit of a loss for words because despite being full time or not not full time
[00:07:09] but five year long podcasters.
[00:07:13] I just don't want to let myself get carried away if that makes any sense.
[00:07:18] Does that emotion resonate with you?
[00:07:21] It does, but that's just superstition right?
[00:07:24] What I've been seeing on X has been astrologers predicting games and people are already saying
[00:07:30] about these writing his speech for after the victory.
[00:07:32] Now I was like what do you guys doing man this is?
[00:07:34] Yeah because I mean two for three.
[00:07:36] Yeah the truth is we were two for three and as Pat come and pointed out we were one Virat
[00:07:40] Kohli catch away from beating India in India that first game.
[00:07:44] Of course the teams have come alive also one then Maxwell catch away from Mujeeb playing
[00:07:49] this I mean the finals tomorrow.
[00:07:51] I should have been in the press conference.
[00:07:53] Yeah I should have had comments of that but I mean you're the stats guy right?
[00:07:58] And I will give you a bit of time to do this because obviously we sort of sitting and
[00:08:02] ruminating really because there isn't anything to do.
[00:08:06] But I'm sure India in the last few years of the last either duration of this podcast
[00:08:11] 2018 onwards has probably had a better record against Australia than in the past.
[00:08:18] I mean we beat them in the 2019 World Cup with the Shikar Davan century.
[00:08:22] Yeah.
[00:08:23] We scored 300 plus we were able to watch that.
[00:08:26] We beaten them in the first game of this World Cup.
[00:08:28] Yes took a scale round special and Virat Kohli special to get us there.
[00:08:32] Just before this World Cup started we won two out of the three games pretty convincingly.
[00:08:38] So it's not the Australia world right?
[00:08:42] The scars are there.
[00:08:43] It's watching that yellow team against the team in blue which makes you nervous.
[00:08:50] Do you have different scars for watching a yellow team against a team in blue captain
[00:08:54] by Rohit?
[00:08:55] But this year I was okay with the yellow team but that's the other thing we should come to
[00:08:59] actually the memories of the Indian players on the Narendra Modi pitch.
[00:09:04] Narendra Modi's pitch.
[00:09:06] So actually we you and I've been ruminating this is probably not a super fun episode for
[00:09:09] people who listen to because we're just getting emotional but let us talk a little bit about
[00:09:14] the most important stuff as it pertains to a World Cup with you.
[00:09:17] DJ let's start with the number one most critical thing.
[00:09:20] What happened to Doa Lippa?
[00:09:21] Why did she announce that she's singing in the show and then suddenly bailed and now it's
[00:09:26] going to be a great time and Gujarati Koch studio guy singing.
[00:09:30] What's actually happening with the halftime show?
[00:09:32] And will they broadcast it or did they not figure out the right thing?
[00:09:35] See I have no idea.
[00:09:36] You're the guy that advertise on the Super Bowl so you know more about this.
[00:09:40] Have you seen this 35 page PDF going around about the halftime show?
[00:09:45] I'll send it to you.
[00:09:46] No what is what it's sorry you know you have to tell us about this.
[00:09:48] I'm sure some of our listeners will also.
[00:09:49] It's a full 35 page PDF that I got on WhatsApp so I would assume some listeners have
[00:09:54] seen it too and it just goes through.
[00:09:57] The final ceremony it says we will start with a four it's a four part ceremony open with
[00:10:02] the salute in the sky at 12 30 PM I see for 10 minutes.
[00:10:05] Suria Kiran acrobatic team the Indian Air Force which would be pretty cool.
[00:10:09] Then so there's some more details of the air show then the halftime show would be a parade
[00:10:13] of champions moment in history where I think World Cup all they've invited all the World Cup
[00:10:20] winning cup.
[00:10:21] We'll remember.
[00:10:22] I'm sorry that's really mean I know there's like there's a lot of like political angle
[00:10:29] to that but that is a bit funny.
[00:10:31] Yeah it's pretty funny so they'll do a they'll do a recount of the different trophies
[00:10:36] and stuff.
[00:10:37] PCI officials will felicitate them with a special blazer representing the 2023 World Cup.
[00:10:42] Then Josh Nujashna rocks the stadium as the title of the next slide music composer pre-tum
[00:10:48] performs live with on to a show 500 plus dad says there's already been clips of circulating
[00:10:54] on X and all that customized floats for pre-tum and the singers as they go around
[00:10:59] the whole stadium songs may include Devadeva Ke Saria Lairadha Jithega Jithega is this
[00:11:05] too much.
[00:11:06] So no the biggest the biggest problem is the biggest problem with all of this is that
[00:11:10] like Virat Kohli might just come out and start dancing and enjoy himself or something but
[00:11:14] that will be that'll be just poetic.
[00:11:16] Did you seem dancing to ever?
[00:11:18] Yeah.
[00:11:19] No one of these gave the ICC poster.
[00:11:21] That's it.
[00:11:22] It's obviously Anushka Sharma's debut.
[00:11:25] Kohli was going to be the last.
[00:11:27] The last part of it is the second inning's drinks break is the laser show which some Aussie
[00:11:31] players spoke on against to the water said he likes it so I don't know that's a great
[00:11:35] of Maxi's batting in the second andnings just then and he's going great gun and the laser
[00:11:39] show happened and he gets out.
[00:11:40] And then he gets out.
[00:11:41] It'll be perfect.
[00:11:42] Yes.
[00:11:43] It'll be just perfection.
[00:11:44] Cool.
[00:11:45] And Maxi tomorrow 100% are going straight up in the air.
[00:11:48] Let's actually let's actually.
[00:11:50] I read a stat that Bumra has not actually gotten worn out so ever you know, yes.
[00:11:59] So DJ let me ask you about team selection.
[00:12:00] A lot of buzz and Twitter can be a crazy place and toxic and this and that for this reason
[00:12:05] for a lot of buzz about the pitch and the fact that it looks like it's going to be slower
[00:12:14] less bouncing and so you start to question my namesake.
[00:12:19] Does he after not playing nine of the last 10 games I guess as he gets a chance in this
[00:12:25] world cup against an Aussie batting lineup with two left arm over left hand openers.
[00:12:30] Do you see Raviashwin coming tomorrow or do they stick to the working combination?
[00:12:36] So he played the first game at Chennai right?
[00:12:38] Yeah.
[00:12:39] Against the Aussies.
[00:12:40] Did pretty well.
[00:12:41] Yeah.
[00:12:42] So all one for 32 or something?
[00:12:44] Sure.
[00:12:45] I believe you.
[00:12:46] Something like that maybe one maybe maybe more maybe less.
[00:12:48] I don't know.
[00:12:49] Let's see we're going to check really quickly as you do that.
[00:12:52] Australia going on in and out.
[00:12:53] Ash was one for 34.
[00:12:54] Do you remember it's a problem?
[00:12:57] It's just something.
[00:12:58] I've junk stored there.
[00:12:59] Yeah.
[00:13:00] It's nonsense but they are not going to play ash tomorrow.
[00:13:07] Okay.
[00:13:08] So they stick to the 11.
[00:13:09] It's too big a call to take in a game where they've won everything.
[00:13:17] The conventional was never you change a losing game.
[00:13:20] You don't change your winning game right?
[00:13:23] So if Nova Jokovic is winning game after game by the way Nova Jokovic DCs tweet on Kohli.
[00:13:28] No, no.
[00:13:29] Unbelievable.
[00:13:30] He tweeted congratulations to Kohli for 50 tons.
[00:13:33] Nice.
[00:13:34] Yeah because they're clearly fans of each other.
[00:13:36] Yeah.
[00:13:37] And no, one girl I think Virat called him greatest of all time.
[00:13:41] Dude, I was trying to plan the podcast preview recording because he's playing this afternoon
[00:13:45] by time.
[00:13:46] But he's what's the point?
[00:13:47] It's like that there's a Nitto ATP final.
[00:13:49] Yeah, he's playing as Alchemy has it'll be great match anyway.
[00:13:52] Yeah, but he's lost everything already hasn't he?
[00:13:56] What are you talking about?
[00:13:57] Jokovic.
[00:13:58] Hasn't he lost a couple of games?
[00:13:59] Is he going to make it?
[00:14:00] He lost one match.
[00:14:01] He's in the semi-finals.
[00:14:02] What are you talking about?
[00:14:03] Oh, is he?
[00:14:04] Sorry.
[00:14:05] I'm sorry.
[00:14:06] So there's a comment coming in from randomly systematic saying Ashwin shall play this match
[00:14:10] India won the 2011 World Cup because recent played the first and last game only that year
[00:14:15] and Ashwin can do the same.
[00:14:17] Oh, so that's an interesting one.
[00:14:19] So in theory, if this was any other game right and not an ornament game, India would have
[00:14:24] gone with what the pitch is doing.
[00:14:25] So if you think it's just an isolation as a bilateral PTM trophy, what would you've done?
[00:14:32] So in that situation let me just walk through the numbers right.
[00:14:34] Against Sri Lanka, Mama Therad picks up three for 16, absolutely brilliant spell.
[00:14:38] He's just a Sri Lanka bully.
[00:14:41] Then he is right.
[00:14:43] The last two terms he split, like he picked up combined 10 I guess.
[00:14:46] But then he played, I'm going backwards order but against South Africa.
[00:14:52] Sir Aj was four of us, one for 11 because we didn't have to really do much right?
[00:14:57] South Africa and 83 all out.
[00:14:59] Then we went to Netherlands and he only bought six overs picked up two for 29.
[00:15:05] And then the semi final came around right?
[00:15:08] And Sir Aj won one for 78 in his nine right?
[00:15:11] The most expensive by far.
[00:15:12] So while it hasn't been bad, it hasn't been the, it hasn't been the same Sir Aj of the
[00:15:18] early stages of the World Cup definitely not against Sri Lanka.
[00:15:20] So do you sit there thinking we are better served if you're just looking at the pitch.
[00:15:25] Forget about the last 10 games.
[00:15:27] No hard to find out.
[00:15:28] We are we better served with a Ravi Ashwin at eight against Mama Therad.
[00:15:34] What do you think?
[00:15:37] And by the way, the pitch talk may all be PR and hype and to throw off the Aussies but
[00:15:41] there's been pictures of the Aussies inspecting the pitch.
[00:15:45] They seem like they're some nerves.
[00:15:46] They pointed something out about the pitch but didn't want to create too much hype.
[00:15:51] They didn't want to.
[00:15:52] The penalty was unrolled on the ends but it looked good in the middle now.
[00:15:56] See, and the world is going to give you a good batting track.
[00:15:59] Yeah.
[00:16:00] Other than against England in that test match.
[00:16:03] In most cases it's been, it's been pretty decent back shot.
[00:16:06] Come in.
[00:16:07] Just bring him in for the last game.
[00:16:09] It's not even so hard is he?
[00:16:10] Yeah, just fly you can change this one.
[00:16:12] Yeah because he's next door anyway but no, on all honesty they are not going to change
[00:16:17] this combination.
[00:16:18] Yes.
[00:16:19] They've served them for nine games including at Lucknow if there was an argument to bring
[00:16:24] in a spinner.
[00:16:25] Yeah.
[00:16:26] That would have been at Lucknow.
[00:16:30] They're not going to change it, they're not going to disrupt the rhythm.
[00:16:33] Ashwin hasn't played for nearly a month.
[00:16:35] Yeah.
[00:16:36] It's a lot to ask to bring him in on the last day.
[00:16:40] Yes, massively experienced player and sure but it's a huge call on the last day.
[00:16:46] And this is this is tournament cricket.
[00:16:48] You've got a bunch of people that are playing together, Jellingwell and my question I guess
[00:16:53] there is what will a third spinner give you which Jadeja and Kuldip are going to give
[00:16:58] you.
[00:16:59] I mean 10 more hours right?
[00:17:00] And I think it's not just that, sorry, I think the specific difference is against a team
[00:17:06] with lefties at the top of the order.
[00:17:08] Do you open the bowling with a boomerash?
[00:17:10] I do do open the boomerash and Ashwin is Warner.
[00:17:13] But Shami, I have to just four against left handers this world cup.
[00:17:16] Like literally you can look this up.
[00:17:18] Look it up.
[00:17:19] I saw the stat and I was like that's unbelievable.
[00:17:23] There's an article by Cricken for a tournament with writer it is because I was just reading
[00:17:27] one after the other and it was like basically his ankle against a left handers has been
[00:17:32] irresistible.
[00:17:34] And it was talking about how from dropping that catch, he turned like something into joy
[00:17:38] I think that's the name of the article which is fantastic but his average against lefties
[00:17:42] this time is four so I wouldn't worry left right list and all of this is all conventional
[00:17:46] wisdom.
[00:17:47] India has already shown us this is all going out of the window we have got seven right
[00:17:53] handed players in the top whatever top say we got six top right hand played in the top
[00:17:59] six only jadeja is lefty.
[00:18:02] So I back Syarat should do the job.
[00:18:04] I mean he can do the job on the day right and who knows who knows the unless there's an
[00:18:12] injury I can't say India changing this team.
[00:18:15] The interesting question is Australia going to change their team because they played
[00:18:19] in manas he failed.
[00:18:21] Are they going to go in again with him in the final?
[00:18:24] Yeah I said they should play stoners instead and clearly they didn't.
[00:18:28] Yeah I'm just trying to so they did play manas again right I'm just trying to look through
[00:18:33] Australia's composition for the semi versus the previous matches so Maxi came back in
[00:18:40] and he brought back in stark Sean Abbott missed out obviously and stoners missed out.
[00:18:45] Yeah I think they stick to it also man.
[00:18:47] I don't I think they stick to it also also let's not forget he hasn't balled yet in the
[00:18:51] tournament but minus is another stone option for the Aussies so I think versus them bringing
[00:18:57] who are they going to bring back the stoners with another quick bowling option I think
[00:18:59] we're sitting here talking about more speed.
[00:19:02] I actually think this is just mind games this track is going to be full of a thousand runs
[00:19:07] as it always is and then in the last two years like every game IPL final what what was
[00:19:13] this course so let's talk let's just talk about the four games then that have happened
[00:19:17] in MW really quickly right so the first match of the tournament England New Zealand
[00:19:21] England makes 282 New Zealand chances it down and 36 overs I think it was.
[00:19:26] Yep next match India box sun box sun you're all out for 91 India chase down pretty but
[00:19:31] 2222 so both quick bowlers those were the two boom bra balls right like but everybody
[00:19:36] took two wickets I think in that game that is that's right and in the first match you had
[00:19:39] Matt Henry take three but then Santana and Glenn Phillips took two apiece so you know nothing
[00:19:45] super conclusive then you went to so in the box sun we talked about right but both teams
[00:19:50] so far win the match that exact.
[00:19:53] Yep then you went to England Australia Australia I think actually England wanted to chase
[00:19:59] because they had seen what happened earlier Australia makes 286 four fork walks two for
[00:20:03] Rashid and then two for Markwood and but England struggled to chase it down three for
[00:20:08] Zempa there and then the rest were all quick so again mixed right very balanced so far to be
[00:20:13] honest and a team that played any better than England may have wanted to may have believed
[00:20:18] they could chase on 286 and then Afghanistan South Africa here again Afghanistan opted
[00:20:23] to bat here which was the first team that won the toss chose to bat first but that was more
[00:20:26] probably playing the opposition than the surface where they believed it's an African batting
[00:20:30] first is a completely different port made 244 and this one was the match where they got
[00:20:36] over the line this South Africans got over the line and we're trying to shed the joker
[00:20:40] stag and all that stuff two for Nabi two for Rashid four for Kutsya if that's how you
[00:20:46] say his name so quick he's a quick yeah he's a quick Maharaj got to so again very balanced
[00:20:52] right so as you look at it it seems like a does feel like it favors the team chasing
[00:20:58] it's not like I was not like the one KDNS is early and B seems like more balanced between
[00:21:03] base and spin unless of course something crazy is happening with the service yeah I agree
[00:21:09] I think this is all just chatter that's it's getting in the Aussies heads right it's like should
[00:21:16] we play him what are we going to do yeah if you've got a spinner like Jadej and you've got
[00:21:21] Kuldip and remember Kuldip turns the ball away from the left handers which is the same direction
[00:21:25] that Ash goes and that's actually pointed out in the comments as well by Vishnu Venkatesh
[00:21:29] yeah you've got the ball turning both ways I think 20 overs of spend will be enough for
[00:21:36] the Aussies the key will be to get David one out I'm interested that Bumbhra's never got
[00:21:40] one out and a ODI game yeah and I mean I don't have the full numbers of how many balls
[00:21:47] he's ball-trimming all that stuff but I just saw the stats so but I mean so how are we going
[00:21:51] to win or lose this game tomorrow should so this is like this is yeah this is what stressing
[00:21:56] us out right like you've won 10 games in a row you're clearly so far ahead of the opposition
[00:22:02] when we did the preview I think I was pretty disgusted by everything I was just like if we don't win
[00:22:07] it now when are we ever going to win it because it all stacked in our favor sure playing well
[00:22:11] our team is doing well they've got grounds that are full of Indian jerseys it's at the top of
[00:22:19] our game Rohit Sharma has been brilliant yeah we've come back from adversity two for three we've
[00:22:26] pummeled teams to the ground we've scored low in Lucknow and restricted England we've bold teams
[00:22:33] out with spin you've got a spinners taking fibers our seamers are taking fibers how is India going
[00:22:40] to lose this I mean it's all that's what you give me chills it's such a great question though
[00:22:47] with this one a horrible question as an Indian fan that tells you your perspective on how
[00:22:52] scarred you'd be yeah yeah what how are we going to win it how are we going to throw it away how do we
[00:22:58] throw it away yeah I mean it's a very interesting question right and as you think about framing it
[00:23:03] for me a couple of sort of X factors right let me start by saying famous last words I'm not super
[00:23:09] worried about the Aussie bowling line okay their threats have historically been stark comments
[00:23:16] Hazelwood they've not none of them have looked great this world cup comments actually his is memorable
[00:23:22] this world cup for his bad thing if anything not with the ball right and his kind of scapency give him
[00:23:27] care for that but not not the ball the star kiss had occasional decent spells Hazelwood's look better
[00:23:32] probably the best of the three but for me none of them have looked at Zampa has had a good world cup
[00:23:36] we have played a lot of Zampa all most of our players have played a lot of these guys in the IPL
[00:23:41] and we're probably the best bad exciting side against spin and then Maxwell has taken
[00:23:45] wicked so I feel okay about that so as I look at it the threat comes from Travis head up at
[00:23:51] the top of the order well a couple good knocks couple failures but for me if he gets off to a flyer
[00:23:58] and you combine that with David Warner who maybe outside of team India has I don't know the numbers
[00:24:03] has played the most cricket in India of the current active world cup problem in the Chris scales
[00:24:07] of the world obviously they don't count but for among active players I think David Warner
[00:24:12] has played probably played the most cricket in India and so he knows spin he knows the conditions
[00:24:16] he knows the crowds the crowds actually love him and so so that's the that's the key threat right
[00:24:21] I think Mitchell Marsh has had a good world cup but we'll be able the likes of Shammy should be able
[00:24:26] to handle him Smith will try to consolidate well and then Maxwell similarly right he blows
[00:24:32] harder cold had an absolutely stunning knock against Afghanistan but I believe we have the
[00:24:36] bowling to potentially big ground is what I remember yeah huge ground right Maxwell dominates
[00:24:41] this in his family one kid is next but so for me I think that the threat for Australia from Australia
[00:24:46] is the top of the order and if we can get through them reasonably quickly I think it's more doable
[00:24:51] I don't know what's your take please sorry I read a Jared Kimber article about how to beat India
[00:24:58] and it was a great article yeah and it was like their weakness is the number eight position
[00:25:06] Australia I think India's India's yeah but to get to number eight
[00:25:13] is an impossible feat basically look at the people you've got you've got to Rahul
[00:25:19] sorry let's start with Rohit form of his life just smashing it everywhere
[00:25:24] averaging high striking high yeah with him let's say he gets let's say Rohit gets 40 and 20 balls
[00:25:30] and that could be and then that's fine too and you've got Shubman Gil double centurion in one day
[00:25:35] cricket loves batting at that ground and this is what I was coming to home ground the memories
[00:25:42] that the Indian players have made at that ground Chadeja hitting the winning runs against the
[00:25:46] quizraw titles at the end of this year's IPF Shubman Gil I think got a hundred in that game as well
[00:25:51] I got runs in that game got hundreds in test matches Virat Kohli's got a hundred in a test match
[00:25:56] there 186 I think against against Australia who are the other bumra of course like it's just a
[00:26:07] brilliant player but Rahul is in great form right now Shreya Syair is coming off two consecutive
[00:26:14] hundreds Surya Kumar Yadav hasn't had a chance to do his thing yet which is not a bad thing almost
[00:26:21] three three skip on number three now Virat is just like he's he's sitting on top of the world
[00:26:27] like he's and he's enjoying it and it's about him yeah and so that's the the only danger with all
[00:26:35] of this is that something I think they have the belief no and they kept their nerve in the semi-final
[00:26:43] they were scratchy in the semi-final but they did keep their nerve I think if it's a 280-ish score
[00:26:54] then it's game on anything above 280 that we need to chase I think it's game on in a final because
[00:27:01] the final adds another 20 30 runs right this isn't 250 to 52 80 weekend it's not a 325 plus
[00:27:09] what about if we bet for so much do we think we need to give Shami and Kru to defend
[00:27:17] so the issue with it is you're looking for new ball wickets because you want the crowd to get behind
[00:27:24] you the moment the crowd falls silent 120,000 people is a lot of people to silence
[00:27:31] and India will feel like they feel the energy of the crowd when they are up
[00:27:35] even at the one-cade there were moments where the crowd went completely quiet and if you're going
[00:27:41] to the game tomorrow I would urge you to make your voice heard even when India is down especially
[00:27:47] when India is down it's very easy to be loud when two three quick o'cats fall or when six is
[00:27:53] me you have to be loud you have to be the difference record it would be that cliched 12th man
[00:27:58] when India is struggling if India is struggling so I could not have been more with that Pat
[00:28:03] comments actually said he said we know there'll be you know 130,000 1.3 lakh fans it's pretty
[00:28:09] it's pretty fun to try to silence such a big crowd now he chosen to make a big statement like that
[00:28:13] but it's true right he knows that they will all be cheering I made a comment that fans love Warner
[00:28:17] I know somebody in the comments has said they won't love Warner tomorrow which is absolutely clear
[00:28:22] but I and so I think all the more reason right the crowds need to be behind team India if
[00:28:28] if Australia starts to get a leg out all right DJ we can talk about this for hours let me just try to
[00:28:33] say so you're saying no same 11 same 11 win toss do what think you're bad I'm sorry you'd
[00:28:42] chase I think you got to chase yeah get restricted to two two 80 or less and it feels good yeah two
[00:28:48] 80 or less is a is a achievable score you've done it against you've chased the last game against
[00:28:53] Australia yes you were two for three but you won you've chased well against Afghanistan you chase
[00:28:58] well against New Zealand as well in the in the group game we got them out for two 73 or something
[00:29:05] I think it was an easy chase yeah I think if anything under 280 and India bat second this is their
[00:29:11] game it'll be that's power for the course anything over 300 yeah remember it has never been chased
[00:29:21] in an ODI World Cup we're living in an RIS of two new balls field restrictions all of that but
[00:29:28] the highest ever chase in a World Cup final remains that day at the one KDI 2011 274 I think it's
[00:29:35] what we chase yeah yeah so the pressure of a final and there will be pressure of a final no matter
[00:29:43] how much these guys denied however professional they are whatever's gone on behind you is no longer
[00:29:49] relevant yeah okay that's it then I'm not gonna ask you to predict because I hope we're all I hope
[00:29:57] we're both gonna predict India victories let me just ask you who do you think
[00:30:02] stands out tomorrow who do you think let's say predict the player of the match for me or or you
[00:30:07] can you can pick one better one but if you want if you don't have predict I so I'm going to go with
[00:30:13] I'm gonna go with Shuman Gail with the bat yeah this is there was there was some stats I remember flying
[00:30:18] around early in the year about Shuman and Emda was and Shuman outside Emda was how nice don't you remember
[00:30:24] that yeah this is the time I mean he loves batting there and he's had an okay tournament he's I
[00:30:31] wouldn't say he's had a fantastic tournament I mean the last tenings would have helped he's looked
[00:30:35] good in times he's there was chat that his injury came because of Dango after a fact but
[00:30:43] I think that's my battle that's what's that I'm finding does that does that come
[00:30:48] paired or is it just be or does that come paired with visuals of him lifting up king and saying
[00:30:53] we're at scary to the nation the burden of the nation on his shoulders for so long it's time to
[00:30:58] to carry him or I should it's too much or another similar line I don't know yeah and I would
[00:31:07] I would put it to to Gail I think we chase I would I would back our boy Gail to score the runs in
[00:31:13] the company of King would be a nice touch if King is around at the end that would be
[00:31:18] uh great which is why I kind of hope that India bat second a little bit but I don't care whatever
[00:31:24] we need to win and my bowler actually is it's going to be just three boomerang it is time
[00:31:31] he has been the outstanding bowler seem to be a little nervous against New Zealand in the semi there
[00:31:37] were few wide down the leg side what did what did you make of that performance by boom in the semi
[00:31:43] yeah I mean I think a little bit of the occasion getting to him I think the fact that
[00:31:47] he recovered right and still till got the team over the line for me and again of course
[00:31:53] like it's very easy to look on paper at shami's five wicket four wickets five wickets seven wicket
[00:31:58] it's really important to remember that boomerang's pressure on the other end and the fact that
[00:32:02] the batting side need feels the need to play out boomerang enables shami to be more aggressive and
[00:32:07] so bowling we always talk about batting partner with bowlers running in pairs too and
[00:32:12] and so I think boomerang showed up as a little nervous but I think he I think he has the
[00:32:17] he has the mental strength and he has obviously the physical ability to deliver on the big stage so
[00:32:21] so I'm with you on that I boomerang finishes it off in style
[00:32:26] and it depends it depends on the toss right I think my hope more than any of the batting or
[00:32:31] bowling predictions at this point is the chestries in the cow and tree walks for the finish if
[00:32:35] yes to be right so that's what they I think we try and do that a little bit yeah they don't
[00:32:39] have a purpose they have a partnership for the west indies would yeah if you're listening
[00:32:44] on youtube or watching us live send it post in the comments your predictions for who will stand
[00:32:48] up tall tomorrow I can't disagree with your guilt prediction but for me I have a feeling
[00:32:54] Rohit will actually come go tomorrow not to say he hasn't come good yet but he's played a very
[00:32:57] specific role to just give starts I think he's gonna bet bad long tomorrow and so whether we're
[00:33:02] chasing or setting a target I think Rohit is I actually don't think Rohit will bet long
[00:33:09] at all because I think he's got one gear in this tournament throughout I'm so I'm hoping
[00:33:15] we're gonna get 500 that's how to say I'm hoping it's up to 64 type of day for him but yeah
[00:33:21] I mean I think I mean I think he's you it's funny because we used to talk about Rohit as not just
[00:33:27] about not just sixes and etc we just talked the expression was daddy hundreds right it wasn't
[00:33:32] just hundreds when he makes century makes a big century and so for me I think I think tomorrow is
[00:33:38] gonna be his day and I think with the ball actually I'm going kool deep there's just something about
[00:33:43] the visual of kool deep at his lowest and now watching him represent the country in the final
[00:33:51] in front of 130,000 people live and potentially billion a billion watching did you see him at the
[00:33:58] ground where he's like no he was like Mahuna when they were saying he was a bit more than he turned
[00:34:03] to the crowd and he said Mahuna and it was literally it was literally just that but he's got it
[00:34:09] actually there is a world that we wake up on monday and india is not a world champion I know
[00:34:13] I'm not talking about that right now no no but tell me tell me how we've dealt with it before right
[00:34:20] and it felt like that in 2019 as well in the semi-
[00:34:22] would you do this no I just want to ask how how would we be able to deal with that if we had to
[00:34:30] I don't know I don't have a good answer for you I mean we'll see I don't know I cannot
[00:34:35] have a press conference saying after 10 wins and a row 45 minutes of bad ticket and we lost it
[00:34:39] like I just can't I won't be able to I don't know if I'll do I might have to take a high it is from
[00:34:42] the podcast you and Barrett can run it for this is all we say yeah if it doesn't play well I'm
[00:34:48] going to stop the podcast it's not doesn't play well man it's just the kind of dominance we've shown
[00:34:54] it and that but that's what makes world cup special it's happened in it's happened in sport
[00:34:59] before it people it'll happen again so it's all set up right like it's a home world cup we won
[00:35:05] every single match yeah actually there's a good comment coming in from randomly systematic which
[00:35:11] just says if if India does lose who's going to watch the t-20s that start four days later against
[00:35:18] Australia I get do you know India Australia t-20 start on Thursday after the workup
[00:35:23] under 14 or something what I was playing like international I hope proper adults men so women
[00:35:29] see team it's adult men's who is going to this is they may do this also in Australia right yeah
[00:35:38] after they win the world world cup with the t-20 world cup they made them play some stupid like
[00:35:43] ODI game yeah it's good that's starting on Thursday which they basically wow yeah so who the hell
[00:35:51] I said you'll just nonsense by the way there's some great uh satan minute references coming in
[00:35:57] around the travel it's a travel yeah it's great yeah but what about Robert he's kept pretty quiet throughout
[00:36:05] yeah actually you have to give credit where it's due and we were a little bit critical after some of
[00:36:10] the early probably the early phase of his sentence coach but you have to give credit where it's due men
[00:36:15] I mean in the corporate world at least results matter more than anything and that's true for
[00:36:22] sport too right results have shown up regardless actually what happens tomorrow 10 out of 10 dominance
[00:36:28] I mean I full credit full credit to Rohit full credit to to drive it I hope we can celebrate it
[00:36:34] with a with a victory but even if not you have to give full full credit to to both coach and captain
[00:36:39] for the way they've just defined people's roles and I'm sorry we're going on attention again
[00:36:45] lasting have you seen those clips start to surface of how three four times in his not
[00:36:49] Cole is checking with the dressing room raising his glove and just making sure he's like am I
[00:36:54] basically checking am I doing okay and you talk a lot about the selfishness and there's a lot
[00:36:59] of not you but like so much of this discussion but we've created this culture where Cole
[00:37:03] knew his role and he's talked about it and he kept checking it hey am I how am I doing am I
[00:37:06] doing okay do you do they send a message in yeah Rovick sent a message in at one point right quite
[00:37:12] animated what do we know what that was about I don't think I know what that was but I think the
[00:37:15] point is compare him to the barbers and the tempers who are getting heat as I skip as Rohit is involved
[00:37:22] he's animated he's just he's leaning from the front with with his words and with the back and
[00:37:28] so I give absolutely full credit to both Rohit and I'll regard less of what happens tomorrow
[00:37:32] and Rohit Sharma's tweet I go to it recently from 2011 in January when he was left out of the squad
[00:37:40] for the World Cup starting in March of February and March yeah he said I'm very disappointed
[00:37:47] don't know what to do any views or something like that to go from that and it was actually without
[00:37:53] coolie that took his spot real yeah because they use a young player to watch the press conference
[00:38:00] started the the announcer said their press reporters please may I present to you Rovick Sharma
[00:38:06] and he said I don't know how to start it's too bad it's too bad it's really yeah it's
[00:38:12] a different completely different vibe but I mean for him to come from that to being one step away
[00:38:17] from holding the World Cup up as an Indian skipper and we were critical of him is why he was like
[00:38:22] the World Cup is eight months ago away we who's thought about it right now and all
[00:38:28] but clearly I come back to feeling like we may be hypocritical this is from going to say oh he's
[00:38:35] struggling to know it's the best thing since last but and to me results matter and they have shown
[00:38:39] the results the team dynamic the camaraderie between the guys the support the amount by the way
[00:38:46] Rohit pulls in co-leader chat about field positions when badders for example are taking
[00:38:51] the attack towards they talk it shows it's not it's it's a it's a team and it's operating like a team
[00:38:58] and I can only hope that team gets to lift a lepidrophy in less than 24 hour step
[00:39:02] I mean we have the best bowlers the best batters it will literally so this is what this is where
[00:39:08] we are right like 2003 we were hoping for a miracle to beat Australia yeah and now I think
[00:39:14] very much on the other foot yeah exactly exactly what you said they are now hoping
[00:39:20] for a miracle to beat us they need something big to happen I think I think
[00:39:27] unfamiliar place for us to be so we don't know what to do with it that is exactly it I think
[00:39:31] that summarizes yours and my energy in terms of this episode because we don't know what to do
[00:39:34] in this position because we just haven't been in this position right we need we took we needed
[00:39:39] a miracle from 36 for nine still not calling it 36 all out they think we need a miracle in 2003
[00:39:46] and anybody they will need you know maybe miracles are strong but they will need a moment of
[00:39:51] magic they'll need a Maxwell batting on no feet type of moment to beat us because that's how strong
[00:39:58] the team in the Indian team is yeah and they'll come they'll come harder to us I mean they are a
[00:40:02] proud team donation that's one four four five world cups five world cups oh man's world
[00:40:08] five and more than that I think in the women's team but some of this team Ashwin it's not that much
[00:40:16] younger than us let's remember that Virat would have been what 13 Rohit would have been 14
[00:40:25] my age like he's a few months younger than me so he remembers exactly as I was watching that
[00:40:30] 2003 final yeah and now they have the chance to write their name into history yes they've won a
[00:40:38] world cup in 2011 but that was as much Sachin Tendulkar's homecoming glory MS Dhoni's brilliance
[00:40:48] got them gumbees brilliance Koli played a part but it was a bit part his part was carrying
[00:40:54] the other guy on his shoulder and giving the equipment playing a 35 now yes he scored a hundred but
[00:40:59] he wasn't the center of the show yeah Rohit wasn't even in that team none of the other guys
[00:41:07] the only Ashwin was in the team but didn't play the final yeah so the only person who knows
[00:41:14] that feeling of lifting a world cup is Koli and he was nowhere close to a king then he was not
[00:41:21] even at the prince at that point he was just a slightly chubby kid from Delhi who
[00:41:28] could bat really well and had away with words probably prepared that line a thousand times in the
[00:41:33] night before because he knew he was going to come to him but now is the time for this would be
[00:41:39] their victory their moment to redeem and get rid of some of those cards that they would have also
[00:41:46] felt as kids and I mean the hopes are different now right like we were pretty confident that we're
[00:41:57] going to win tomorrow but cricket is a funny sport so hopefully tomorrow brings a good game which ends
[00:42:04] in the right result I cannot think of a better note to wrap that up on really well said other than
[00:42:09] the fact that you've made me realize now I'm probably exactly in between Rohit and Virat's age I
[00:42:15] think if you split the difference on the bird this is exactly fine so yeah just just phenomenal it's
[00:42:22] going to be a good one I have my alarm set for 225 I'm going to miss probably some of the air shows
[00:42:27] and stuff but I will be ready for the first ball because it's 2.30 am my time again for those in
[00:42:33] US Central Time or anywhere close I hope you are all planning your sleep cycle like I am so
[00:42:38] you got to be awake and alert for the entire game it's going to be great DJ thank you for joining me
[00:42:44] thanks for doing this preview hit that like button hit the subscribe button send in your tweets
[00:42:47] Facebook messages insta all of the above go to the temple go to the church do whatever you have to do
[00:42:55] and I will say again if anybody is listening to this and going to the stadium be at your loudest
[00:43:00] 20m India's not doing well because that's when they do and that's a wrap we will
[00:43:06] yeah those three I'm not there that is it thank you all for joining us this has been the
[00:43:11] Edgesons Legislative Podcast we will see you tomorrow hopefully jubilant bring us across thanks
[00:43:17] for joining we will talk to you again soon