ICC World Cup 2019 | India slightly ahead of Australia, says Harbhajan Singh

Both India and Australia would be brimming with confidence when they take on each other at The Oval, as both the sides have momentum on their sides. The pitch is expected to be balanced whereas the rain is expected to stay away, despite the showers on the previous two days. Harbhajan Singh feels that both the sides will go unchanged in this game. 

“Exciting game, both teams are the top most teams in the competition. This is going to be a cracker of a game. I think India slightly ahead. I don't think there will be any changes in the playing XI. Weather is expected to be fine. I don't think we have to make a lot of chances. We have the players who can adapt to any sort of situation. India will be good,” he said, reported India Today.

Australia were defeated in their turf by India earlier but the Kangaroos punched back with a win on the Indian soil. The Aaron Finch-led side will now be further bolstered by the return of David Warner and Steve Smith after the end of their respective bans, as pointed out by the veteran spinner. 

“Australia are a solid opposition. When Warner and Smith joined back, they made this team even more stronger but I think India are strong as well,” asserted the 38-year-old.

Mitchell Starc bowled a good four-over opening spell against West Indies and returned with figures of 26 /1. However, he was deadly in the middle overs and at the backend, thereby ending up at 46/5. The pacer would prove to be a challenge for the Indian batsmen, as pointed out by the Punjab player.

“It is going to be challenging to bat against Mitchell Starc. We saw in the previous game. He is in fine form,” said the Jalandhar born spinner.

Harbhajan reckoned that opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan holding on to their wickets in the first ten overs will be crucial for India.

“Coming to London, I don't expect a lot a swing. They should just bat normally in the first ten overs, just the way they played Tests against Australia. If India can resist and not lose too many wickets or not a single wicket inside the first ten overs, then I think India have a good chance of making 280-290,” he signed off.