WTC Final 2023

Australia fielded four left-hand batters in the top seven -- Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Travis Head and Alex Carey, with the first two batters out in the first session on day one of the one-off finale. Instead of Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, India have taken in Shardul Thakur, who got out Warner in the first session.

At Tea, Steve Smith was 33 not out and gave Head company in an unbroken 94-run stand for fourth wicket as 97 runs came off the second session. Head was also aided in his free-flowing stroke play by Indian bowlers, giving him width and overpitched deliveries on pads for him to hit ten boundaries in his unbeaten 75-ball stay.

For Australia, opener David Warner looked in great touch after surviving a probing first hour, particularly from Mohammed Shami, though he lost Usman Khawaja to Mohammed Siraj for a ten-ball duck. But Warner fell just before the lunch break to Shardul Thakur, which would have pleased India after losing some control when the all-rounder and Umesh Yadav operated after Shami and Siraj kept things tight.

Both captains Rohit and Pat Cummins will be playing their 50th Test match through the WTC final. The winner of the 2023 WTC final will become the first team to win all ICC titles in men's international cricket.

Undoubtedly, India's team has been the most consistent one over the past two WTC cycles. They have also managed to reach knockout phases of major white-ball tournaments over the last 10 years but a trophy has eluded them. On the other hand, Australia will be looking to add to their enviable collection of world titles after missing.

Though the 31-year-old pacer from Mumbai is hoping to make just his ninth appearance in Test cricket in the WTC Final against Australia starting at The Oval on Wednesday. Thakur told the ICC that he is determined to make every opportunity count in an Indian jersey, with the chance to be selected in an ICC Final representing a once-in-a-lifetime moment for him.

Gill has shot to prominence in all three formats of the game over the last 12 months. The 23-year-old's exceptional performances include a record-breaking ODI double-century against New Zealand earlier this year. Moreover, the youngster had an impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign where he scored three centuries and amassed a total of 890 runs.

Ahead of the WTC final against Australia, the 36-year-old spinner spoke to the ICC and discussed a whole host of topics, revealing one particular behind-the-scenes moment that he holds as a personal highlight in the past two years of Test cricket.

Since winning the ICC Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni's leadership in England in 2013, India has been winless in global tournaments across all formats, something which has been a subject of huge discussion in the run-up to any competition. India finished as runners-up in the 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and 2021 World Test Championship final.

"Recently during the IPL, I had a word with Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He (talked about) his experiences keeping in England as well as what would work the best for any wicket-keeper. It was a very good conversation and there were a lot of insights from that," Bharat was quoted as saying by ICC on Monday.