After their shock loss to Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup, Australia faces a do-or-die clash against India in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Australia must win to keep their Semi Final hopes alive, against one of the only sides that are unbeaten at the tournament. Jack Tobin provides a full preview, best bet, and prop bet for the match below!
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
Australia vs India Prediction & Betting Tips
St Lucia, Tuesday 24th June, 12:30am AEST
Australia
Predicted XI: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Australia lost to Afghanistan for the first time on Sunday and it now puts Australia in an incredibly difficult position to qualify for the Semi Finals. Australia were held to their lowest score of the tournament being bowled out for 127 in pursuit of Afghanistan’s 6/148.
An uncharacteristically poor fielding performance allowed Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48) to lay the platform for a competitive total, as their 118 run opening stand proved to be the difference in the game. Josh Hazlewood (0/39) and Marcus Stoinis (1/19 off 2) were well under what they’d produced throughout the tournament, leaving a tricky chase for the batsmen.
However, Australia’s batting unit outside of Glenn Maxwell were nothing short of appalling, relying on another World Cup miracle from Maxwell to get them over the line. Maxwell scored a fantastic 59 off 41 to keep Australia in the hunt, however no other player scored above 12, with eight players scoring single figures.
The most disappointing thing for Australia was that they weren’t spun out by the mystery of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed. Seamers Gulbadin Naib (4/20) and Naveen-ul-Haq (3/20) did the damage. Ashton Agar replaced Mitchell Starc and did a great job taking 0/17 off 4 overs, but it is likely that he will make way for Starc in St Lucia.
Australia now takes on the best T20 side in the world needing to beat India and hope that Afghanistan lose to Bangladesh or win by small enough of a margin that they don’t pass Australia on net run rate. Australia currently have a net run rate of 0.223, while Afghanistan currently sit at -0.65. If Australia lose, they’ll need to rely on Bangladesh upsetting Afghanistan to make the Semi Finals. Either way the Aussies are going to need some help from a side that is winless in the Super 8 stage.
India
Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
After a less than convincing start to the tournament largely due to the pitches they played on in the US, India have been dominant in the Super Eight stage with a 47 run win over Afghanistan followed up by a 50 run win over Bangladesh.
Given their 2-0 record and a net run rate of 2.425, it would require an extraordinary final day for India to not advance to the Semi Finals. It would require India to be smashed by Australia and Afghanistan to smash Bangladesh, however given how far behind on net run rate Afghanistan are, it’s a highly unlikely scenario that India misses out.
India’s bowling attack has led the way this tournament, with India conceding an average score of just 119.8 runs per game across their five completed games at the tournament. Arshdeep Singh has taken 12 wickets which is the third most at the tournament, however it’s been Jasprit Bumrah who has been the most damaging bowler. Bumrah has taken 10 wickets with an economy rate of just 3.42, the best economy rate of any bowler remaining in the tournament with more than 5 wickets.
Rishab Pant has been India’s leading run scorer, with 152 runs at an average of 38. Pant has been supported by Suryakumar Yadav who has scored 118 runs at an average of 29.50. It’s been an even spread with the bat for India, having four different top run scorers from their five games. Yadav is the only player to have multiple games as their leading run scorer, while Pant, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have all top scored in a game. Virat Kohli looms as the sleeping giant after a quiet tournament so far, and he lifts himself in games against Australia.
Match Prediction: India haven’t put a foot wrong yet at the tournament, and will be desperate to go a long way in knocking out Australia given the heartbreak of last year’s ODI World Cup Final. Unlike Australia, India have had a spread of contributors with the bat, which gives confidence that regardless of the match situation, they can find a way to produce a winning score.
India’s bowling attack has been outstanding at this tournament, and will pose huge questions to an Aussie batting unit that has only really hit its straps in one game. India have won nine consecutive T20 Internationals, and have won six of their last seven matches against Australia in this format. India will be too strong and leave Australia relying on a miracle from Bangladesh to progress.
India to Win
$1.72 (2 Units)
Prop Bet
As alluded to earlier, Jasprit Bumrah has been almost unplayable at the T20 World Cup, taking 10 wickets at an average of 6.50 and an economy of 3.42, nothing short of video game numbers. Bumrah has produced figures of 2/13, 3/7, 0/25, 3/14, 2/6 and 1/12 and will give Australia’s batsmen plenty of headaches.
Tip: Jasprit Bumrah, India Top Bowler $3.50 with Bet365
