Cricket World Cup: Australia v India betting preview, tip and TV details

TV: Sky Sports Cricket / Main Event, 10.30am Sunday

The Oval, London

This summer's World Cup sprang into life with Bangladesh's defeat of South Africa and England's shock loss against Pakistan and two giants of limited-overs cricket can serve up another humdinger in the capital on Sunday.

Bookmakers are struggling to separate Australia and India in the outright betting, with both heavyweights rated 3-1 to lift the trophy. The teams have won seven of the 11 Cricket World Cups between them.

But the picture is sure to be much clearer after the champions put their 100 per cent record on the line against Virat Kohli's men.

India stormed to a six-wicket success in their first match of the tournament against South Africa, one day before Australia squeezed past a vibrant West Indies side at Trent Bridge.

Best bets

There was scarcely a moment when India did not look in control of their opening match against the Proteas.

Jasprit Bumrah lived up to the expectations on the number one bowler in the format by ripping through South Africa's openers before a spin assault from Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 4-51, reduced them to 227 from the 50 overs.

India's plethora of strong batsmen meant the early loss of Shikhar Dhawan barely unsettled them and an unbeaten 122 from Rohit Sharma saw them home.

The same cannot be said for Australia. They came into this tournament in excellent form but after the West Indies had them at 38-4 and then 79-5 it felt as though old demons could surface.

Had it not been for an anomalous 92 from Nathan Coulter-Nile and their pace attack bailing them out, the Aussies could be approaching the India test with a different mindset.

The Men in Blue lost their recent ODI series with Australia 3-2 but it is worth noting that their trump card - their varied bowling attack - was still being tweaked and altered at that stage.

But with Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar set to open, Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav able to do damage in the middle with their leg-spin and Hardik Pandya able to ruffle a few feathers, the range of bowling options Kohli has at his disposal should give them the edge.

Australia eventually settled against the Windies pacemen and if the Caribbean side had more spin options than Ashley Nurse, they might have put them to the sword.

Usman Khawaja looks worth backing to finish as Australia's top runscorer.

He has made a stuttering start to the tournament but he was player of the series against India in March, scoring 50, 38, 104, 91 and 100.

Recommendations
India
3pts 4-5 general
U Khawaja top Australia runscorer
1pt 4-1 general

Team news
Australia
Aaron Finch has no injuries to contend with and is likely to name the same 11.

India
The Men in Blue could also be unchanged with Vijay Shankar for KL Rahul the only possible change.

Venue
The setting for the World Cup opener between England and South Africa, The Oval has seen three scores of 300 or more in the three matches it has hosted so far.

Weather
Cloudy but with only a 15 per cent chance of rain and highs of 20C.

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