The last Test assignment for both these teams was in February this year when they faced each other in India. This is going to be the first Test match for both India and Australia since then.

India is coming into the Final as the top-ranked ICC Test team and the second-ranked team on the WTC points table, while Australia are the second-ranked team on the ICC Test rankings and the top-ranked team on the WTC table for this edition.

WTC Final 2023, IND vs AUS: Pitch Report

The WTC Final is scheduled to be played at The Kia Oval, London, a ground known to have a generally sporting wicket that has something in it for everyone. It’s likely to be dry and rain-free, with ample sun through the Test.

Among all the Test venues in England, The Kia Oval ranks fourth in terms of batting averages. Each wicket has cost 30.15 runs across a large sample of 104 Test matches played at this venue. Among venues in England that have hosted ten or more Test matches, only Trent Bridge has a higher batting average – 30.4.

Two days to go for the #WTCFinal and this is how the pitch looks like 🔎

What is your playing XI gonna be? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/wLyYHr4vcy

— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 5, 2023

However, if you look at recent records, the batting average at The Kia Oval has slipped down to 26.69 in the last five years.

Spin vs Pace at The Kia Oval

Spinners have generally found it tougher than fast bowlers here, as is the norm in England. Spin bowlers have historically averaged 34.26 runs per wicket at The Kia Oval, compared to an average of 30.6 for fast bowlers.

However, spinners have started to enjoy more success at this venue of late.

Among all the venues that have hosted a Test match in England in the last five years, the bowling average for spinners has been the lowest at The Kia Oval – 28.72 – across four Test matches. The same for fast bowlers is 27.53, signalling that it hasn’t been a one-way street and that both seamers and spinners have come into play.

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WTC Final 2023, IND vs AUS: Dream11 fantasy tips

# Rohit Sharma scored a hundred at The Kia Oval last time he played here, plus he has a good record against Mitchell Starc and a decent one against Pat Cummins.

# Shubman Gill is in the form of his life as well and has been scoring hundreds for fun this year. It wouldn’t be a bad option to pick both the Indian openers.

# The Indian middle order can be avoided, as all three of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane have poor records at this venue. Each of them average less than 30 from three Test matches and they have crossed fifty just twice in 18 innings combined at The Kia Oval.

# On the other hand, Steve Smith has a humongous average of 97.75 from three games at The Kia Oval and should be a certain pick. Marnus Labuschagne wouldn’t be a bad choice either, given he is the number one Test batter in the world.

# Ravindra Jadeja has done well both at The Kia Oval, and against Australia, and will play a central role for India in the game. He can give points in all three departments and should be one of your top captaincy choices along with Smith. Similarly, the Australian all-rounder, Cameron Green is also expected to give points in multiple departments and can be considered as an outside choice for captaincy/vice-captaincy.

# Mitchell Starc averages in excess of 60 with the ball and David Warner averages less than 25 with the bat at this ground: both can be avoided.

The Captains 👍
The Championship Mace 👌
The Big Battle 💪

All In Readiness for the #WTC23#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Ep10vb2aj5

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2023

WTC Final 2023, IND vs AUS: Probable XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

WTC Final 2023, IND vs AUS: Dream11 team

Potential swaps

Travis Head/Virat Kohli for Usman Khawaja/Marnus Labuschagne
Pat Cummins for Mohammed Shami

Captaincy options

Ravindra Jadeja, Steve Smith, Cameron Green