New Delhi: India cricket team have broken the semifinals curse and has finally qualified for the ICC World Cup 2023 finals after 12 years, with a convincing win over New Zealand in the semifinals.
The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 19, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The men in blue will be taking on the five-time champions Australia in the 2003 World Cup finals rematch, where Australia defeated India by 125 runs to lift the coveted trophy for the third time.
BCCI has taken the initiative to make the finals as star-studded as possible with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, alongside Home Minister Amit Shah by his side.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi @narendramodi will attend the Final of Cricket World Cup 2023. I can visualize Modiji presenting the 🏆 to Rohit Sharma @ImRo45
WATCH THIS👇👇👇
https://t.co/m7ae0Br37E#SAvsAUS #CricketCup2023 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/Zy3NMQr3WH— Astro Sharmistha (@AstroSharmistha) November 16, 2023
BCCI has also sent the invitation to the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to watch the finals from the stadium.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese has been invited for the 2023 World Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/awpX10fXjA
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 17, 2023
Former World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni are also expected to be in attendance as part of the ICC captains’ invitation.
American pop star Dua Lipa is scheduled to lead the closing ceremony alongside Pritam Chakraborty and Aditya Gadhavi.
2019 avenged
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli appreciating each other after the Semi win.
Dressing room BTS #INDvsNZ #RohitSharma𓃵 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/PTwXXX6U5b
— Shivani (@shivani_45D) November 16, 2023
India suffered a heartbreaking loss in the 2019 World Cup semifinals against New Zealand by 15 runs and was given a chance to correct their mistake when they faced the same team in the 2023 World Cup semifinals.
India made no mistake this time and, with the help of centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, posted a huge total of 397 for 4 on the board.
In reply, despite a fighting century from Daryl Mitchell, the whole New Zealand squad was packed on 327, thanks to Md. Shami’s 7-wicket haul which gave India a convincing 70-run victory over the black caps.
2003 revenge on the table?
After avenging the 2019 World Cup heartbreak, the men in blue will be eager to avenge the 2003 final loss against the Aussies, where with the help of Ricky Ponting (140*) and Damien Martyn (88*) posted a huge total of 359 on the board.
In the chase, despite Virender Sehwag (82) and Rahul Dravid (47) putting on a brave fight, the whole Indian team were bundled out on 234, giving the Aussies a huge 125 runs victory to lift the World Cup trophy for the third time.
