IND Vs AUS Final, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Heartbreak For India As Travis Head Guides Australia To 6th Title - As It Happened

Another big match, and another big win for Australia. Thus ended the 13th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India with the Aussies winning a record-extending sixth title at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. And the losers - the hosts India, who entered the final as the unbeaten team in the 10-ten tournament. Soon after losing the toss, the two-time champions found themselves taking on a different beast. They struggled with the bat, getting all out for a below-par total of 240, then witnessed Travis Head hit a sensational century. The Aussies cantered to a six-wicket win with 42 balls to spare on Sunday. Catch IND vs AUS highlights and cricket scores. (Scorecard | Match Report | Full Coverage)

That's all from our side!

10:30 pm: Australia coronated the new World Cup Winners!
The formalities have been completed. It's time to light the fireworks. Cummins raises the trophy over his knee before lifting it above his shoulder. His friends yell with delight as they continue to pose for the photographers. Cummins has now invited the support workers to participate in the images. They now make their way out to the CHAMPIONS hoarding to deliver some of the most valuable splash-worthy front-page images.

10:20 pm: Australia to receive the World Cup trophy
The honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Richard Marles, have now been welcomed to the platform to present the prized trophy to Australia's skipper, Patrick James Cummins. Mr. Modi immediately approaches the Australian players to congratulate them, and Mr. Richard Marles seems overjoyed as he greets the 'men in yellow'.

Australian Captain, Pat Cummins: I believe we saved the greatest for last. We've been batting first for most of the competition, and we believed tonight would be a good night to chase down the goal. It also didn't spin as much as we expected. The lads were terrific; we have an aging team, but everyone is still flinging themselves on the pitch. We believed 300 would be difficult but doable on that wicket, so we were pleased with 240. Magnificent. Marnus kept his calm, and Travis did what he did best on the largest platform, displaying a lot of personality. The selectors have supported him, and it was a significant gamble that paid off. Throughout the bowling innings, I was pleased. You look around, and no matter what occurred tonight, it is a great time. You have to go win the World Cup; you can't wait for it. This year will be remembered for a long time, and we had a lot of success during the winter, with this one being the pinnacle. On top of the mountain.

India Captain, Rohit Sharma: The outcome did not favour us. We didn't do well today. We tried everything, but it was not meant to be. We needed 20-30 runs more, KL and Kohli were stitching a fantastic combination, and we were aiming for around 270-280, but we kept losing wickets. When you have 240 on the board, you want to take wickets, but credit to Head and Labuschagne for taking us out of the game, although I believe the pitch improved marginally for batting under lights. I don't want to use that as an excuse. We didn't score nearly enough runs. Credit to those two guys in the middle for putting up an outstanding partnership.

Most wickets in a single edition of the World Cup
27 M Starc (2019)
26 G McGrath (2007)
24 Mohd Shami (2023) *
23 C Vaas (2003)
23 M Muralitharan (2007)
23 S Tait (2007)
23 A Zampa (2023)

World Cup 2023 summary
Most runs: Virat Kohli (765)
Highest individual score: Glenn Maxwell (201*)
Most centuries: Quinton de Kock (4)
Most sixes: Rohit Sharma (31)
Most wickets: Mohd Shami (24)
Best figures: Mohd Shami (7/57)
Most WK dismissals: Quinton de Kock (20)
Most outfield catches: Daryl Mitchell (11)

Player of the tournament - Virat Kohli (765 runs)
Virat Kohli received his Player of the Tournament medal from BCCI President Roger Binny.

Player of the Tournament in World Cups
1992: Martin Crowe
1996: Sanath Jayasuriya
1999: Lance Klusener
2003: Sachin Tendulkar
2007: Glenn McGrath
2011: Yuvraj Singh
2015: Mitchell Starc
2019: Kane Williamson
2023: Virat Kohli

Player of the Match in semifinal and final of a World Cup
Mohinder Amarnath in 1983
Aravinda de Silva in 1996
Shane Warne in 1999
Travis Head in 2023

Player of the match - Travis Head 137(120)
Never expected this, never in a million years, absolutely a remarkable day. Much more enjoyable than sitting on the couch at home. I'm delighted to have contributed; the first twenty balls I played gave me a lot of confidence, which I was able to maintain. Mitch Marsh set the tone by coming out and taking the game on. We needed that kind of enthusiasm because we knew the wicket would be tricky. After winning the toss, it was a wise choice to bowl first. The wicket seemed to improve during the day. It took a little spin, but it paid off. It's great to be a part of it, to have a say in it all. He's definitely the unluckiest man on the planet (Rohit Sharma). Again, it's (fielding) is something I worked hard on. I couldn't picture scoring a hundred, and I certainly couldn't see keeping that one. It was fantastic to hang on to the catch. It's important to watch out for your teammates, and being able to do it on the big stage in front of a packed audience is an honour. (On joining Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Head on the list of centurions in the World Cup finals) Definitely third on that list, it's a wonderful one to join, nice to be here, and nice to contribute. I'll just tell the lads that I'm excited for the reunion.

Glenn Maxwell: (On winning shot) It was a bit of a drag, but it felt wonderful, and we were all pleased when it was down to 20 runs. I resigned myself to not having to bat like in 2015, but Heady was out and I had to go out there and do the job. When you see Head take on Bumrah, it's a little different; I got a taste of my own medicine. Head was outstanding, and Marnus was second to none. It was an incredible partnership.

David Warner: Our bowlers were terrific; they established the tone from the first ball. That was backed by the fielding. To bowl India out for 240 in a final is incredible. The locker room was buzzing with anxious excitement. We continued switching spots. But that was a fantastic collaboration between Marnus (Labuschagne) and Travis (Head). What an amazing return by Head, especially after coming back from injury.

Marnus Labuschagne: Oh, mate! What we accomplished today is incredible; it is the finest accomplishment I have ever witnessed. To travel to India. They were ten out of ten with one to play with. They've been fantastic (India). Our bowlers have been fantastic, and Travis has put up a fantastic display. I am a guy of faith who believes in God. It's incredible how things have turned out for me. I'm at a loss for words. I'm grateful to the coaches for staying with me. To play 19 straight games from South Africa. God is to be praised for this.

9:50 pm: Player's ratings from Australia's win over India
Undeterred by the strong home crowd, the record champions cruised to the 241 target on the back of a brilliant partnership between centurion Travis Head and semi-centurion Marnus Labuschagne. Furthermore, the Australian bowling attack was prolific with the ball, collecting seven of the 10 wickets on offer and restricting the unbeaten hosts to a low total. Read the player's ratings from Australia's win over India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final Here.

Brief score: AUS - 241/4 (43)

Travis Head - 137(120),  Marnus Labuschagne - 58*(110)  |  Jasprit Bumrah: (9-2-43-2)

Australia won by 6 wickets!
Sixth ODI World Cup triumph in the previous ten editions. Australia, the mighty Australia. 2023 CHAMPIONS Australia. Inglis wins the running race, and his teammates join him in hugging the on-field batting duo of Maxwell and Labuschagne. KL Rahul is on his knees and refuses to leave the pitch. Virat Kohli seemed to be in astonishment. Siraj is crying. Bumrah attempts to comfort him. Rohit Sharma is busy praising Australia and demonstrating real sportsmanship. Rahul Dravid has now walked out to welcome the Australians. Aaron Finch, the previous captain, is out in the middle, and there is a lot of pleasure in the group. Several Australian players are still taking it all in while crying tears of perseverance and optimism. As you can expect, the festivities will continue indefinitely. The night is still young, and it will remain so for the foreseeable future for every Australian supporter throughout the world. Incredible. Invincible. Indomitable. Unyielding. Bloody-minded.

Winning Moment!
As soon as Maxwell finished one and a half runs, he burst out laughing, and the Australians rushed onto the pitch to embrace and celebrate. KL Rahul is sitting on his haunches, while Siraj is in tears. KL and others attempt to comfort Siraj. The customary handshakes are then exchanged as pyrotechnics light up the Narendra Modi Stadium. After the handshakes, the Indians return inside, with Bumrah waving to the Indian supporters, who clap in appreciation.

9:12 pm: Australia need 11 runs in 54 balls
Australia are just 11 runs far from their sixth World Cup title. Both the batters want to be there on the crease and hence they are taking no risks to reach there fast.

AUS - 230/3 (41)

9:10 pm: Fifty for Marnus Labuschagne!
Marnus Labuschagne is fifty up, but considering the circumstances of the game, it should seem like a hundred to him. Gets there with a wonderful flip off his legs, just selected the line early and sent it flying to the deep mid-wicket boundary. Applause from the Australian dugout

9:00 pm: Australia need 22 runs in 66 balls
Australia are nearing its sixth title of the ICC Cricket World Cup and Travis Head is ensuring that happens as quickly as possible. Only 22 runs are required in 11 overs for Australia to clinch yet another ICC title.

AUS - 219/3 (39)

8:50 pm: AUS - 192/3; Overs 31-35 Highlights
Travis Head completed his century and Marnus Labuschagne is reaching his half-century. India bowlers are still in search of wickets but it seems as if Head and Labuschagne will do the work for Australia. Australian spirit has hit India very hard. Head is smashing boundaries for fun and is taking the match near to the end single-handedly. Indian bowlers looked helpless and tired. The crowd has also gone silent. Middle-overs are where the Indian team have dominated throughout the tournament and it is the middle-overs where they have lacked today.

8:40 pm: Travis Head completes Century!
A match-winning ton versus India in the WTC final, now a match-winning ton in the ODI World Cup! He missed the first five games due to a fracture in his left hand. Australia supported him and selected him for the World Cup squad, and he has proven why. Pushing the leg break to the right of the point for a hazardous single. A direct hit would have ended his inning. However, Jadeja misses the mark, and Head is in. It is his day.

8:30 pm: AUS - 167/3; Overs 26-30 Highlights
Travis Head is beheading Indian hopes with his inning. He played a similar kind of inning in the WTC final against India back in June this year. Marnus Labuschagne is providing good support to him. Both the batters have also completed a 100-run stand between them and are still going strong. The ice-and-fire combination of this duo has left Indian bowlers scratching their 'Heads'. India need wickets in quick succession if they want to stay in the game. Travis Head is also approaching his hundred.

8:10 pm: AUS - 132/3; Overs 21-25 Highlights
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head have frustrated the Indian team with their combined approach of defense and attack. Meanwhile, Travis Head completed his fifty. He joined Virat Kohli on the list of players who made 50-plus scores in both the semi-final and final of the ICC Cricket World Cup. This is the real test for Rohit Sharma as captain. Ball isn't doing much, there's an ominous partnership brewing and the opposition is growing confident with every passing moment. India desperately need a breakthrough at this moment otherwise it will be too late for them.

7:55 pm: AUS - 104/3; Overs 16-20 Highlights
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have managed to rebuild the innings for Australia. They have added 26 runs in this phase together and are taking Australia near the target. No turn has been offered from the ball for Indian bowlers and it is getting harder for them with every passing minute at the ground. Marnus and Head have managed to extract singles and doubles easily and Travis Head also smacked a six off Kuldeep in the 16th over. The 50-run stand between the duo was also completed. 

7:40 pm: PM Modi and Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles reached Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles came to Ahmedabad on Sunday evening to attend the final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi stadium.

Modi and Marles are likely to arrive at the stadium late in the evening.

7:30 pm: AUS - 78/3; Overs 11-15 Highlights
Spinners got introduced into the attack just after the first powerplay ended. Ravindra Jadeja started with a wide delivery. He, along with Kuldeep Yadav bowled tight lengths and kept the Aussie batters under pressure. Kuldeep and Jadeja bowled in good areas and also got support from the surface. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head are not ready to take any risk at this point in the game and lose another wicket. Both batters have played carefully and dealt in singles and doubles to keep the scorecard moving. Only 18 runs from this phase.

7:15 pm: AUS - 60/3; Overs 1-10 Highlights
David Warner and Travis Head have provided Australia with a flying start. After collecting 15 runs from the first over of Jasprit Bumrah in which there was a dropped chance of David Warner in the slip, Mohammed Shami struck with his first delivery of the match and sent Warner back to the pavilion. Mitch Marsh, the new batter played his natural game of attacking cricket and hit a few boundaries before Jasprit Bumrah got him caught behind. Travis Head kept standing on one end and kept hitting boundaries at regular intervals and used the first powerplay to score runs. Jasprit Bumrah struck again and trapped Steve Smith in front of the wickets. However, the replay showed the impact outside off stump. But Smith went back without using DRS. Australia made 60 runs in the first powerplay with the loss of three wickets. 

7:00 pm: Bumrah strikes again, traps Steve Smith!
With a slower delivery, he thoroughly fooled Smith here. This is on par with Shaun Marsh's slower delivery at the MCG or Rizwan's slower delivery in Ahmedabad. India outwits the Australian hitters by changing fields. Before this delivery, Virat was urged to go to short mid-wicket from slip. Bumrah so deftly slid in an off-cutting slower delivery that Smith missed it and raised his finger. Interestingly, Smith didn't go over it. He spoke with Head briefly before walking away. The replay showed impact outside off stump!! What a moment in the game!

AUS - 47/3 (7)

6:50 pm: Bumrah departs Marsh!
Marsh was nabbed at a slip off Bumrah in Chepauk. Marsh caught KL off the coast of Bumrah near Ahmedabad. You can almost see why Rohit sent Siraj towards long-off to offer Marsh a single on the penultimate ball of the previous over. Marsh reached out to Naveen, who also bowls from a wide angle, and Bumrah is an expert at it. Marsh goes for the cut, under edge and it travels to KL, who pouches it neatly after a short delivery outside off stump. Now we're down to two.

AUS - 41/2 (4.3)

6:45 pm: Mohammed Shami Dismissed David Warner
Mohammed Shami got his 24th wicket of the tournament as he dismissed David Warner for 7 runs.

6:29 pm: 11 Runs Off Jasprit Bumrah's First Over Including A Drop Chance
India started their defence of 241 as David Warner earned a first-ball reprieve after it flew between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in the slips. Travis Head then blasted two fours to give the Aussies a rollicking start.

6:22 pm: Australian Run-chase To Begin Soon
Australian openers Travis Head and David Warner are out in the field with Jasprit Bumrah taking the new ball.

6:12 pm: Mitchell Starc Speaking Post-match
"You can always plan for things, the way we contributed with the ball is fantastic first up and now out there (need to do the job) with the bat. There is not a whole heap of help for the seam bowlers and swing bowlers, was trying to do a few different things, and vary the pace a little bit. Patty (Cummins) and Josh (Hazlewood) were outstanding and a little bit of reverse at the back end. Hopefully, we restricted them to enough (runs). We bowled second here against England and it was a little dewy, the wicket (today) is a little bit dry and hopefully the dew comes in and we don't see any reverse in the second innings, not an easy wicket to bat on, the easiest time to bat perhaps is against the hard new ball and there are runs to be scored and it is not going to be easy, but it is what you ask for, it is a world cup final. What more can you ask for!"

6:04 pm: Stat Attack!
Five dismissals by Josh Inglis is the most by a wicketkeeper in a World Cup final.

Innings Break!
It wasn't the showing India were hoping for; facing the mighty record champions of the ODI World Cup, Australia, the Men in Blue looked to have got off to a flying start before a mid-innings crumble restricted them to a below-par total. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hit half-centuries while Rohit Sharma fell three runs short of one.

Australia's pace proved to be India's undoing, with Mitchell Starc picking up three wickets, Josh Hazlewood two, and captain Pat Cummins two. Moreover, Australia's prowess in the field added another layer to their brilliant first-innings display, with sensational catches and stops keeping those present inside the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on their feet. India finished with a total of 240 runs, having lost all of their wickets.

Target set for Australia - 241 runs in 300 balls

Brief score: IND - 240/10 (50)

KL Rahul - 66 (107),  Virat Kohli - 54 (63)  |  Mitchell Starc: (10-0-55-3)

5:40 pm: Hazlewood removes SKY!
The strategy of bowling slow and short to Suryakumar Yadav has succeeded. For the umpteenth time this inning, a shuffling SKY is early into his pull shot. The ball is gently lobbed up off the glove for the keeper to scoop it.

IND - 226/9 (47.3)

5:30 pm: Most wickets for a spinner in a World Cup
23 M Muralitharan (2007)
23 Adam Zampa (2023)
21 Brad Hogg (2007)
21 Shahid Afridi (2011)
20 Shane Warner (1999)

5:05 pm: IND - 215/8; Overs 41-45 Highlights
Suryakumar Yadav has been standing on the one end and his partners from the other end kept changing. India completed 200 runs in the 41st over. Mitchell Starc bowled a beauty to dismiss set batter KL Rahul for 66 runs. In his inning, KL has hit just one four and has played 107 deliveries. Mohammed Shami hit a boundary to start his inning but was soon removed by Mitchell Starc. Jasprit Bumrah got trapped by Adam Zampa in front of the wickets. Three wickets in quick succession have exposed the Indian tail. Suryakumar Yadav needs to score some big hits to help India post a respectable total on the board.

5:30 pm: Zampa departs Bumrah!
Bumrah has been given out LBW. He walks. He shakes his head and does not look back. 93.3 kph, jumbled seam, fullish length that falls straight. Bumrah advances to block and is beaten on the inside edge before being smacked on the front pad next to the sticks. Would have most likely hit the leg. 

IND - 214/8 (44.5)

5:20 pm: Starc removes Shami!
Starc takes his third wicket! Shami swings powerfully past the line at 141kph. It's a length ball just outside of off. Maybe a little away movement, and there's the hefty outside edge. Josh Inglis made another easy catch.

IND - 211/7 (43.4)

5:10 pm: Starc gets KL Rahul!
Wasim Akram would have approved. 137.9kph length ball from around the wicket straightens off the deck. Rahul squares off and pokes. The outside nick is induced, and Josh Inglis makes no mistakes. Rahul's vigil has come to an end. Now into the tail!

IND - 203/6 (41.3)

5:05 pm: Only two boundaries in middle overs for India!
India's two boundaries between overs 11 and 40 are the fewest by a side in the middle overs in the World Cup 2023. And it was the first time in this World Cup that India did not hit a six.

5:00 pm: IND - 197/5; Overs 36-40 Highlights
India intended to shift gears and Jadeja tried to do that and lost his wicket in the 36th over. Josh Hazlewood took his wicket by getting him caught behind for 9 runs in 22 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav has joined KL Rahul in the middle and this is the perfect stage for him to showcase his skills in this tournament. In this phase of five overs, only 21 runs were made with the loss of one wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.

4:50 pm: Ravindra Jadeja departs!
This is great bowling from Hazlewood, he angled it in with the seam pointing away, Jadeja pushed at it with no footwork at all, just looked to reverse a bit again and that was enough to find a healthy edge. Josh Inglis instantly flung it up in excitement, and Australia has made another critical breakthrough. 

IND - 178/5 (35.5)

4:40 pm: IND - 176/4; Overs 31-35 Highlights
Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have rebuilt Indian innings in the last 5 overs. Both the batters have shown positive intent and dealt in singles and doubles. 24 runs were added in the phase without any further wicket loss. Both batters need to build a partnership and look to extract runs with a better run rate from here. 

4:15 pm: IND - 152/4; Overs 26-30 Highlights
Virat Kohli completed his 50 runs in the 26th over. This is Virat's 5th consecutive 50-plus score. KL Rahul hit a boundary off Glenn Maxwell to provide India their first boundary after 97 deliveries. Virat Kohli also lost his wicket when Pat Cummins bowled him in the 29th over. Ravindra Jadeja joined KL at the crease. 21 runs were added with the loss of the big wicket of Virat Kohli in this phase.

4:05 pm: Pat Cummins bowled Virat Kohli!
A short-length delivery dug in on the stumps causes Kohli to rise on his toes to defend with a slightly tilted bat, which becomes lethal. It follows the inside edge to the popping crease and lands on the stumps. Kohli was on track for another century and anchoring things wonderfully. Cummins enters the fray and takes one of the most significant wickets of his career.

IND - 148/4 (28.3)

3:55 pm: No boundary from KL!
KL Rahul has played 58 balls in his inning and is still to hit a boundary. He has made 28 runs all with singles and doubles. Virat Kohli has also not hit any boundary since KL came to the crease. It is certainly because of the constant pressure from the Aussies and consistent good bowling from the bowlers. Australia have been brilliant in the field as well.

IND - 135/3 (26)

3:50 pm: IND - 131/3; Overs 21-25 Highlights
Australia have managed to put Indian batters under pressure for 5 more overs. Both Indian batters are still in search of the first boundary after 15 overs. Only 16 runs from the last 5 overs but no wicket has been lost that's a relief for the Indian side. India need to score runs with a good run rate now since half the batting innings are done and India are still to touch the 150-run mark. 

3:35 pm: IND - 115/3; Overs 16-20 Highlights
India have not hit any boundary in the last 10 overs. After making 80 runs in the first powerplay, India managed to add just 35 runs in the last 10 overs. But Virat Kohli and KL Rahul's presence at the crease is a big relief for Indian fans. Both batters have been cautious and have made runs with singles and doubles. The Australian side have done a brilliant job in the field today. No fielder has given less than 100 percent in the field today. Bowlers have also been very accurate and have managed to put pressure after taking three wickets early in the game. Only 18 runs were made in the last 5 overs without any wicket loss.

3:20 pm: IND - 97/3; Overs 11-15 Highlights
Shreyas Iyer lost his wicket to Pat Cummins and was caught behind. He again failed to score big when his batting came in the first powerplay. KL Rahul has given good support to Virat Kohli and both batters have played sensible cricket so far. Only 16 runs were added from the last 5 overs but wickets are safe. Both batters have the talent to score big and they showed the last time both teams met. 

2:50 pm: Shreyas Iyer falls!
Shreyas Iyer was caught holding out his bat at a length ball in the zone of uncertainty right beyond off. Because it was too near to off, there wasn't much movement, and he played slightly down the incorrect line to get a feather of an outside edge through to the keeper. Two quick wickets and the Aussies are back in the game! 

IND - 81/3 (10.2)

2:50 pm: IND - 80/2; Overs 1-10 Highlights
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started the innings well but Shubman Gill fell short and lost his wicket while trying his favourite short arm full and gave the catch straight to the mid-on. However, before that Rohit had already provided India the fiery start and targeted Starc and Hazlewood in the initial overs. He played Starc with great caution but also charged on bad deliveries. Gill and Rohit were given the chances by the Aussie fielders. But both were half chances. Virat Kohli joined Rohit Sharma after Shubman's dismissal and he also started on a high note with three consecutive boundaries off Mitchell Starc. Travis Head took a screamer to send Rohit Sharma back to the pavilion when he was playing on 47 runs. Shreyas Iyer started his inning with a four. With the loss of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma's wickets India have made 80 runs in the first powerplay. 

2:43 pm: Rohit Sharma goes after fiery start
The audience becomes silent as the Indian captain collapses. Rohit went for a lift towards wide mid-on, cut it high, and this was a flighted delivery angling away. Head had to rush back from the cover point and reach full length forward to catch it inches from the ground. That has given the Australians a huge boost. Maxwell and Cummins are both roaring. They appeared to be enjoying the achievement of a strategy. He already had 10 runs off the over, but he wanted to make the most of the powerplay. He's been playing in a team sport. Regardless, it was a tremendous inning!

IND - 76/2 (9.4)

2:38 pm: It's raining boundaries 
Virat Kohli has joined Rohit Sharma in the middle and both batters are playing with a strike rate of more than 100. Rohit Sharma is playing his natural game with three fours and two sixes so far in his inning of 37 runs in 27 balls. Whereas, Virat Kohli is also making runs with a better run rate and has hit 4 fours so far in his inning of 23 runs of 20 balls. 

2:25 pm: Shubman Gill departs
Gill is known for his short-arm jab pull punches off the front foot, despite his short delivery. He attempts one, but it doesn't come on as intended, so he hits it straighter and to Zampa at mid-on. He pulled it to mid-on rather than mid-wicket since it wasn't as short and near to the body. Starc does a double-fist as he achieves his first breakthrough.

IND - 30/1 (4.2)

2:05 pm: India start batting
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are out in the middle to start the batting for India. Mitchell Starc is opening the bowling attack for Australia. There was an appeal for LBW on the first ball, but it was swinging down the leg from Rohit. 3 runs from the first over. India are off the mark. 

IND - 3/0 (1)

1:55 pm: Time for national anthems
The match officials make their way to the centre, followed by one of cricket's finest players, Sachin Tendulkar. Both teams' players are now striding out for the national anthems. Australia's  Advance Australia Fair was the first, followed by India's Jana Gana Mana. 1,00,000 people singing the anthem, it just can't get any better.

1:40 pm: Other events of finals
Today at the Narendra Modi Stadium, it's not only cricket. The finale will feature a variety of activities.

-- Pre-match - 13:35 to 13:50 Local: Suryakiran IAF Airshow
-- 1st innings Drinks Break - Aditya Gadhvi's performance
-- Innings Break - Performances from Pritam Chakraborty, Jonita Gandhi, Nakash Aziz, Amit Mishra, Akasa Singh and Tushar Joshi
-- 2nd innings Drinks Break - Laser and Light show

1:35 pm: Toss Update

Australia have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis(w), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins(c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

1:35 pm: What captains said
Pat Cummins, Australia Captain: We're going to bowl first. It appears to be a dry wicket. Dew is a consideration. It becomes easier to bat on. After a shaky start to the competition, I haven't put a foot wrong since. Everything is in order. We've had a lot of practise with these people. The same team as in the semi-finals.

Rohit Sharma, India Captain: I would have gone first in the batting order. Looks like a terrific pitch, a huge game, and runs scored. It's going to be incredible; every time we play here, a tremendous audience shows up. The largest cricketing event of the year. We must have a pleasant and tranquil demeanour. Captaining the squad in the final is a dream come true. I know what's in store for us. We must play well and achieve success. On the pitch, you must make the correct judgments. We've done it regularly over the previous ten games. We're all on the same squad.

1:30 pm: What Starc said before the match
Mitchell Starc: It's been instilled in Australian cricket from prior teams and greats (talking about attitude for big situations), not anything we invented, but something imprinted by previous heroes. We made it through this competition without playing our best cricket, and perhaps that will change tonight. Different people have stepped up at various times, and what an event today would be.

1:25 pm: Pitch Report
Ravi Shastri: "This is pitch number five. The same pitch that was used during India's match against Pakistan. It differs from that one in that it has been left open for an extended period. It appears to be quite dry, with little rolling. It appears spotty, particularly in locations where spinners will land the ball. I anticipate a slight shift. Dew is out of control. You may be in trouble if there is no dew. When you bat first, getting runs on the board is critical. But India will be unconcerned in any case."

1:15 pm: What Bumrah said before the match
Jasprit Bumrah: It is critical to remain concentrated and complete the task. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the family will also be present. When we play at home, we always have a lot of support. But what matters is that you perform your job for India and stay in the moment.

1:08 pm: Facts about Toss
In the past 12 World Cups, the team that won the toss won four times, while the side that lost the toss won eight times. Notably, India has lost the toss in both of its World Cup finals that they have won.

12:55 pm: Pitch, Weather Conditions
The pitch is the same one that was used for the marquee India vs Pakistan group-stage encounter on October 14. India skipper Rohit Sharma said it was likely to be on the slower side, while Aussie captain Pat Cummins felt it was firm. It may or may not be a high-scoring game but the surface is likely to take spin later.   

As for the weather, the temperature is expected to be around 32 degrees Celsius at 2 pm, when the day-night game will begin. The mercury would subsequently keep dipping, and hover at around 30 degrees Celsius at around 6 pm when the first inning is expected to get over. Post sunset, the temperature will dip further and is expected to reach 25 degrees Celsius by 9 pm. 

12:45 pm: Head-to-head Record
India and Australia have met 13 times in the ODI World Cup. The Aussies have won eight of these games, as against India's five. Overall, the two teams have locked horns in 150 ODIs, with The Kangaroos enjoying a much superior record - 83 wins to India's 57. Ten games have ended without a result. In the past five clashes, however, India have been stronger, winning three of them, including their 2023 ODI World Cup opener in Chennai. 

12:30 pm: Preview
This is the fight for global supremacy. India and Australia remain the most powerful cricketing nations, and whenever the teams representing these two countries meet, the clashes become much more than a sporting duel. Today's final at the world's biggest cricket stadium will be no different. Anticipation of a blockbuster clash is sky-high and the presence of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in the stands will only add luster to this pivotal clash.

For a change, India will start as favourites against Australia in an ICC final. The two-time champions have been imperious, to say the least. They started the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with a victory over the Aussies in Chennai and will culminate with a date with the five-time champions in Ahmedabad. In between, they have blown away the eight other teams, including a double against last edition's finalists, New Zealand.

Australia, the most dominant side in the history of the tournament, entered the tournament after a good ODI series outing against India. The men from Down Under, after two defeats, notched up eight wins on the trot to make an eighth final. Now, they look primed for another title push. The last time Australia and India faced off in an ODI World Cup final, the Aussies hammered India for their third title. They have since lifted the trophy two more times.

Welcome to our live coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia, being played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. It's down to two teams after 45 league matches and two semi-finals. This is the ultimate showdown to crown the best team in the world, a World Cup title clash, featuring two of the biggest sides. The Rohit Sharma-led India, on a winning spree with 10 consecutive wins, will seek to end their decade-long trophy drought, while Pat Cummins & Co. are vying for a record-extending sixth title.

Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna.
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Cameron Green.