India vs Australia, World Cup 2023: Chennai Weather and Pitch Report

Team India will start their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign against five-time World Cup champions, Australia, on Sunday at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. India enter this mega tournament with a good, balanced squad. However, the side had a setback when Shubman Gill reportedly tested positive for dengue and may miss the opening match. In his absence, Ishan Kishan could partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

Australia, the champions from 2015, consistently presents a formidable challenge in multi-nation tournaments. However, they too have a whole host of injury concerns – Travis Head, who has been confirmed to be sidelined for the initial phase of the competition.

India at World Cup: Yes, Rohit’s men are favourites. Can they handle the pressure?

India come into the tournament after having won the Asia Cup and then beating Australia 2-1 in a 3-match bilateral ODI series.

Chennai Weather Forecast for India vs Australia World Cup match

As per the weather forecast for Friday, 8 October, the chances of rain in Chennai are very low. According to AccuWeather, there is a 10-12 per cent probability of precipitation. During the day, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 34°C. However, the temperatures will drop down to 29°C at night. There could be instances of passing showers during the match, but the match is expected to be completed without much trouble.

What happens if the match is washed out?

There are not reserve days for the league matches in World Cup 2023. So if the match gets abandoned, then both teams will be given a point each.

India vs Australia Chennai Pitch Report

The MA Chidambaram Stadium’s pitch will offer assistance to both the batters as well as the slower bowlers. It typically features a dry surface that offers spinners a good grip.

The pitch will slow down as the match progresses, hence the side batting second could face a few challenges. Opting to bat first after winning the toss would be the preferred strategy at this venue.

IND vs AUS: Full Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.