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Unbeaten India will be clear favorites in the upcoming World Cup final against Australia, former Men in Blue's head coach Ravi Shastri said on Friday, November 17, Friday. Shastri feels the Rohit Sharma's brigade should stick to their game plans and not worry about their opponents. India has been in stunning form in the ongoing ODI World Cup, recording 10 straight victories so far in the tournament.
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“I think they will be relaxed. They are playing at home, and it's a very experienced side. And they don't need to do anything different. The way they have played.... it will be around the way they had left in the last game. They should be holding that cup very soon,” Shastri said, as reported by PTI.
"India will win the World Cup. They will start as favourites in the final. They have played outstandingly well," he added.
India and Australia have already clashed with each other in the group stage of the ongoing World Cup, where Rohit Sharma's men emerged victorious.
But it will not be enough to guarantee their win in the final. The five-time champions Australia are a team with a rich history of success in big tournaments, and they will be determined to add another trophy to their collection.
Shastri believes the Men in Blue will need to stay calm and focused, and not let the occasion get the better of them. If they can do that, then they have a good chance of lifting the World Cup trophy, Shastri opined.
"They just need to be composed and calm, handling and soaking in the pressure. You (India) don't want to be over-excited just because it's a final. You (India) know what your roles are, and the good thing is this team doesn't depend on one or two players. There are eight or nine players performing game after game, so that's a brilliant sign," The 61-year-old said.
Meanwhile, former India all-rounder lauded Mohammed Shami's exceptional performance in the ongoing World Cup. Shami currently tops the bowling charts with 23 wickets, including a remarkable seven-wicket haul against New Zealand in the semifinal. Shastri believes Shami will play a crucial role in India's quest for World Cup glory in the final against Australia on Sunday.
"The very first ball, if he (Shami) is sprinting in, (I wish) good luck to the batters. The seam presentation, the way the ball lands.... What he has done in this World Cup is to consistently hit the right lengths. Even in Mumbai, he was troubling the batsmen with his skills. Not many got the ball to move around, but he got to do it and got the outside edges. I say this is the best Indian bowling attack. When you look at the variety and skill set, it's amazing," Shastri concluded.
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