India all-rounder Hardik Pandya conveyed a heartfelt message to team India before their ODI World Cup final against Australia. The Men in Blue are scheduled to confront Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.
Taking to the social media platform Instagram, Pandya expressed immense pride in the team, emphasising that they are just one step away from achieving glory.
Pandya suffered an ankle injury while bowling against Bangladesh early in the World Cup. This injury unfortunately forced him to withdraw from the rest of the tournament.
"I could not have been more proud of this team. Everything that we've done so far has been credited to the years of hard work behind us. We are now one step away from glory, from doing something special that we've dreamt of since we were children," said Pandya.
He urged the team to secure the cup, emphasising that it's not only for themselves but for a billion people in India.
Prasidh Krishna was announced as the replacement for Pandya in India's 15-member World Cup 2023 squad after his injury.
"Lifting the cup not just for ourselves but the billion people behind us. Always with you with my love and all my heart. Now let's bring the cup home. Jai Hind," Pandya added.
The final is set to take place between hosts India and the five-time champions, Australia. The Men in Blue are currently on a winning streak of 10 matches in the tournament. They dominated the league stage with a flawless record, culminating in a 70-run victory over New Zealand in the semi-final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
Regarding the Aussies, they secured the third position in the group stage by winning seven and losing two games. After facing defeats against India and South Africa initially, Australia rebounded with a seven-match winning streak during the league stage.
Emerging victorious against South Africa by three wickets in the semi-finals at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Australia secured their place in the 2023 World Cup final.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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