Cricket World Cup Final tips and predictions from James Milton

James Milton Updated: 17 Nov 23 13:45 Published: 17 Nov 23 13:35

Hosts India have won all 10 of their matches on their way to the Cricket World Cup final and they are expected to see off Australia in Sunday's showdown in Ahmedabad.

James Milton's Cricket World Cup Final Tips

Shubman Gill India Top Batter @ 7/2
Australia Most Match Sixes @ 6/4
Shreyas Iyer Over 24.5 Runs @ 5/6

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene…..

Pre-tournament favourites India have made smooth progress to the final, although they had to work hard for their opening six-wicket victory against Australia, who dismissed three of their top four batters for ducks.

The Aussies also lost their second group game to South Africa, but they arrive in Ahmedabad on an eight-match winning streak after Thursday's tense semi-final win over the Proteas.

India saw off New Zealand in a high-scoring semi on Wednesday and 1.4 billion home fans will be hoping that Rohit Sharma's men hold their nerve against five-time world champions Australia on Sunday.

Shubman Gill India Top Batter @ 7/2

Virat Kohli stole the show for India in the semi-final, scoring a record-breaking 50th ODI century, but opener Shubman Gill also looked in fine form during his unbeaten 80 off just 66 balls.

Gill started the World Cup as favourite to be top tournament runscorer but illness forced him to miss India's first two games and he has taken a while to hit top gear.

His last four scores were 92, 23, 51 and 80 not out and he knows the Narendra Modi Stadium, venue for the final, better than any other India batsman.

The Gujarat Titans star scored 572 runs off just 331 balls in Ahmedabad in this year's IPL, having also cracked 126 not out in February's T20 international against New Zealand there, and he can shine on the biggest stage once again.

James Milton's Tip:

India have a wealth of batting talent with Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in sparkling touch but Shubman Gill's awesome record at Ahmedabad means he gets the nod in the Top Batter betting.

Gill missed the group game against Australia due to illness but scored 74 and 104 against them in two September ODIs and averages 66 in 50-over internationals this year.

Australia Most Match Sixes @ 6/4

Australia dominated the early exchanges of their semi-final against South Africa, reducing the Proteas to 24-4 before openers David Warner and Travis Head struck six sixes in the first nine overs of the run-chase.

An aggressive approach with bat and ball is likely to be the Aussies' best chance of upsetting India in the final and they are worth backing to hit more sixes than the favourites.

Australia won the maximums battle in six of their last seven group games and Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh are three of the top eight six-hitters at the tournament.

James Milton's Tip:

The Aussies hit more sixes than six of their last seven opponents in the group stage, by margins of 10-6, 12-9, 20-12, 15-0, 19-6 and 5-1, and they could outshine India in that department on Sunday.

Australia's fast bowlers caused all sorts of problems for India in their opening game and also for South Africa in this week's semi-final.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, so India's big hitters may not have things all their own way.

Shreyas Iyer Over 24.5 Runs @ 5/6

Shreyas Iyer will be brimming with confidence after back-to-back centuries in his last two matches and India's number four should be backed to exceed a runs line of 24.5.

Iyer had a tough couple of years leading up to the World Cup, suffering shoulder and back injuries, but he is peaking at just the right time for his country.

His last four innings were 82 off 56 balls against Sri Lanka, 77 against in-form South Africa, 128 not out against the Netherlands, and 105 from just 70 deliveries in Wednesday's semi-final win against New Zealand.