India vs Australia Match Prediction: Who will win today's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match?
Australia are in a pickle, and India are better off. Coming into the 2024 T20 World Cup, few could've predicted that this is the situation the two teams would be in heading into their final game of the Super 8 stage.
But the Aussies' loss to Afghanistan has pushed them into this corner, and they now need to beat India to secure automatic qualification for the semifinals. If they won't, or if an unlikely washout transpires, Australia will need to hope that Afghanistan slip up on Tuesday.
Remember, remember, the 19th of November. On that day, too, it seemed like India were the favorites. And it all came crashing down. While the Men in Blue are at minimal risk of heartbreak this time around, they do have a glorious opportunity to get one over their rivals.
Can India play a hand in knocking Australia out of the 2024 T20 World Cup before the semifinals?
2024 T20 World Cup: India look to continue unbeaten run vs under-pressure Aussies
On a tricky track, Afghanistan managed to restrict Australia's power-packed batting lineup. That was possible largely because Mitchell Marsh, Tim David and Matthew Wade have made barely any meaningful contributions in the tournament so far, struggling to come to the terms with the pace of the pitches.
While St Lucia is a batting-friendly venue, relatively at least, rain could make things difficult for the Aussies. They are still reliant on David Warner and Travis Head to do what they do best in the powerplay. If the duo can take Arshdeep Singh to the cleaners and milk Jasprit Bumrah for singles and the odd boundary, they can set a platform for the middle order to explode.
Luckily for Australia, India have batting concerns of their own. The Men in Blue have scraped their way through in that department, with Suryakumar Yadav notching up a couple of half-centuries and Rishabh Pant tallying a few important runs at No. 3.
Australia have the bowling might, as well as the smarts, to restrict India's key batters, who have clear weaknesses in their game. With Virat Kohli out of form as well, the Kangaroos will back themselves to make the most of those shortcomings and stay alive in the competition.
Australia are still arguably the better T20 team on paper, and under pressure, they usually play to their potential. This will obviously be their toughest test to date in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but they might start as the slight favorites despite being on a back of a frustrating defeat.
Prediction: Australia to win Match 51 of the 2024 T20 World Cup.