Cricket World Cup betting odds: India hot favourites for glory
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India are the odds-on favourites in the Cricket World Cup betting odds to beat Australia in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.
The hosts were at the head of the CWC 2023 outright betting going into the tournament and remain there at 2/5 after winning all nine group matches.
They then beat New Zealand in the semi-final while Australia (2/1) overcame South Africa to advance to the final having won seven of their nine group games.
After seven weeks and 47 matches, the 2023 Cricket World Cup finally reaches its conclusion and we look at the key issues ahead of the winner-takes-all battle.
Can King Kohli be stopped
With over 300 million followers on social media, Virat Kohli transcends his sport.
But with 711 runs in 10 matches to date, he has also proved he masters it too.
Kohli has been in majestic form over the past few weeks, standing up remarkably to sky-high expectations. He has passed 50 eight times and celebrated three centuries.
Having failed to deliver a global title as captain, it increasingly appears to be his destiny to deliver one for successor Rohit Sharma.
If they are to win, Australia simply must prevent him holding court.
Kohli is 5/2 to be India’s top runscorer and 6/1 to be named man of the match, with Sharma 11/4 to score the most runs for his side.
There is also an odds boost of 11/10 for Kohli to hit a six and Sharma to reach his half-century is now 13/8.
Seam supremacy
Both sides have pace bowlers who can wreak havoc when they are on a roll and an unplayable spell from any one of them could be decisive.
In Mohammed Shami, India boast the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with the wily quick claiming a staggering 23 wickets at 9.13 despite sitting out four group matches.
He has stolen the spotlight so far but Jasprit Bumrah is built for the big occasions and will fancy leaving his mark on the final.
Australia, meanwhile, lean heavily on the ‘big three’ of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who dovetail brilliantly with their distinct set of skills.
Keeping them out of the wickets while maintaining a strong scoring rate remains one of the trickiest challenges around.
Cummins is 7/2 to take the most wickets for Australia, with Starc and Hazlewood 3/1 and 10/3 respectively.
Pitch imperfect?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India caused a controversy ahead of the semi-final against New Zealand, switching the pre-agreed pitch for an alternative strip at the eleventh hour.
The International Cricket Council’s independent pitch consultant Andy Atkinson was understood to be angry about the barely explained change and flew to Ahmedabad to oversee matters ahead of the final.
His recommendation, pitch number five at the Narendra Modi Stadium, has been followed this time but once again it is a used surface having previously hosted India’s game against Pakistan on October 14.
A fresher track would be fitting for a game of this magnitude but a worn surface favours the home side, who boast greater spin options. Australia will be paying close attention to how well it plays.
Powerplay positioning
Despite the strength of the new-ball attacks, both teams are built to attack in the first 10 overs.
India lead off with their fearless captain Sharma and the incorrigible driver Shubman Gill while Australia look to dominate through the trailblazer-turned-veteran David Warner and the in-form Travis Head.
All four openers have the ball-striking ability to take the game away from opponents and it will not have escaped anybody’s notice that the team who bosses the powerplay head-to-head is the team that typically wins in these conditions.
Of the quartet, 37-year-old Warner is in the most interesting position as he retires from the format at the end of the match.
Nothing would vex this tigerish competitor more than bowing out without getting his punches in first.
Warner is 3/1 to be Australia’s leading runscorer while there is an odds boost of 9/4 for him to score a half-century.
It is 12/1 for Warner to bow out of this format of the game by being named man of the match.
2023 Cricket World Cup betting odds
2/5 India
2/1 Australia
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
