Ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 World Test Championship final at The Oval, both the Indian and Australian cricket teams, along with the match officials, were seen donning black armbands as a solemn gesture to honor the victims of the devastating Odisha train tragedy. The incident, which occurred earlier this month near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore district, claimed the lives of 288 people and left over 1000 injured, making it one of the worst train disasters in India in nearly two decades.
In a poignant display of solidarity, a minute of silence was observed by everyone present at the stadium before the national anthems, serving as a moment of reflection and remembrance for the tragic loss of lives. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed their condolences to the affected families and friends in a statement, stating that the team mourns the deaths with a heavy heart.
As the match commenced, India won the toss and chose to bowl first against Australia in their quest for the coveted World Test Championship title. Notably, both captains, Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins, reached significant milestones as they marked their 50th Test match through this final encounter. The victors of this momentous event will etch their names in history as the first team to achieve success in all ICC titles in men's international cricket.
Rohit Sharma revealed India's strategy after winning the toss, opting for Ravindra Jadeja as the sole spin option over Ravichandran Ashwin. The team composition included four fast bowlers, namely Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur. Adding to the excitement, Ajinkya Rahane returned to the Test team after a hiatus since January 2022, while KS Bharat took charge as the wicketkeeper-batter. Australia's lineup saw the debut of pacer Scott Boland in England, as his teammate Josh Hazlewood remained sidelined due to injuries in his left Achilles and side.
This match holds historical significance for The Oval, as it hosts a Test match in the month of June for the first time. Aside from the pursuit of glory, the winners of the 2023 World Test Championship final will receive a prize purse of 1.6 million dollars, while the runners-up will be awarded 800,000 dollars.