India vs Australia predictions: Hosts to send early message
- India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have scored 896 runs between them
- India have won all ten of their matches at this World Cup
- Recommended bet: India to have highest opening partnership
It does not get any bigger than this for Indian cricket.
Having handled the pressure of a home World Cup superbly well, Rohit Sharma's side are just one win away from lifting the trophy at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium this weekend.
Standing between them and a prestigious third ODI World Cup title are five-time champions Australia, who have themselves been on a hot streak since losing their first two games.
The Aussies edged past South Africa last time out, while India won their semi-final with New Zealand to set up a fitting final which should not disappoint.
Team news
India are likely to remain unchanged with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening and Virat Kohli looking to build on a tremendous campaign at three.
Mohammed Siraj has featured in all of India's World Cup contests, but the number 11 batter is yet to face a ball.
There is also no injury news to report for Australia as leg-spinner Adam Zampa (22) goes head-to-head with India's Mohammed Shami (23) to finish as leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
The stats
Virat Kohli has been India's top runscorer on four occasions at this World Cup and leads the tournament's scoring charts with 711.
India have won all ten of their matches in the competition, while Australia have won eight games on the spin following defeats in their openers against India and South Africa.
Rohit Sharma's strike-rate in his last nine innings at the ODI World Cup has been 156, 136, 129, 115, 86, 200, 167, 113 and 162.
Prediction
It has been an outstanding team effort from India at this World Cup.
While the nation itself has done a tremendous job of hosting the tournament, on the field, the team have looked faultless.
There have been some terrific individual performances as well, none more eye-catching than those of Virat Kohli.
Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar's record with his 50th ODI century last time out, contributing to a tournament-leading total of 711 runs.
But Kohli may not have had as much freedom at three had it not been for the fine efforts of the two batters above him.
Heading into the final, skipper Rohit Sharma and in-form Shubman Gill are set to open the batting and they can lay the foundations for victory in Ahmedabad.
Sharma has been his side's top runscorer three times at the tournament - his high score was 131 against Afghanistan - while Gill has bounced back after missing the first two World Cup games with dengue fever with scores of 92, 23, 51 and 80 not out in his last four innings.
Sharma is renowned for attacking the opening ten or so overs of India's ODIs and that tactic should see him and Gill outscore Australia's opening pair of Travis Head and David Warner.
