The Australian team on paper holds slight advantage on a bouncy track at The Oval but both Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting believe that the Indians are better prepared.
The India team have had its share of innovations and it is now using multi-coloured rubber balls for catching practice!
It means the inaugural World Test Championship winners face a tough ask to qualify for next year's one-off Test in June 2025, with two wins against England and several other results also needing to go their way if they are to reach the Lord's decider.
The Australian team will prepare for the six Tests by undergoing a high-intensity training camp in Beckenham, featuring centre-wicket practice and net sessions.
India head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday said the ICC World Test Championship final should be a best-of-three affair in the long run and not a one-off match like his side is set to play against New Zealand in the inaugural edition.
Jasprit Bumrah has started practicing with the red ball as he gears up for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka next month.
When Kohli asked Jamieson to bowl with the Dukes to him in the nets, the New Zealander did not fall for that trick.
Panesar feels the concept of WTC is a great advertisement of Test cricket and the former spinner went on to term the summit clash as an encounter similar to arch-rivals India and Pakistan playing a Test match or the Ashes.
Team India is all set to take on Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship final from Wednesday at The Oval and this 'Ultimate Test' also brings with it a set of milestones that players can establish during the course of the match.
Temba Bavuma and his son Lihle celebrated with the ICC Test Championship Mace, marking South Africa's most memorable cricketing moment.
Ponting said at the end of the day it comes down to individual preparation.
India overtook Australia after their thumping 295-run win in the first Test in Perth.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the WTC Final played between Australia and India at The Oval in London on Thursday.
'I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game... he's been bowling every game through this IPL and he's bowling quick.'
Young opener Shubman Gill is looking in good rhythm and should continue to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, former India batsman VVS Laxman said on Tuesday.
For the Indian captain and his team, the WTC final is like their Test debuts as young players trying to come up the ranks.
India's fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar ruled out the possibility of a change in the playing XI after the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand was washed out.
India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship finals (WTC) took a major hit as they slipped to the fifth spot in standings following their embarrassing 0-2 series whitewash to South Africa at home.
Doull said New Zealand were definitely benefited by the two games against England ahead of the marquee clash.
It was India's fourth loss in the current WTC cycle, causing their PCT to drop from 68.06 to 62.82.
Ricky Ponting believes that India will play both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the World Test Championship final against Australia, starting June 7.
India should look at Shardul Thakur over Mohammad Siraj as the fourth fast bowling option in the side for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand in case of overcast conditions in Southamptom, said former selector Sarandeep Singh.
For Pat Cummins's side, the addition of Flower to the coaching staff will only add more to the expectations as they strive to become the first Australian team to win an Ashes series in England since 2001.
The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final will be played at the iconic Lord's cricket ground from June 11 to 15 next year.
'Rain to start in Southampton means coffee and a chat watching the covers to start the day.
'It gave the viewers that spectacle, with three possible results going into the final session. I think we saw similar characteristics on this wicket when we played against England.'
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald backs the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, but admitted that Cricket Australia (CA) need to invest in their bodies to set the star pacers up for 2027.
The current WTC system awards the same number of points -- 12 for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw -- which has given rise to discontent that India, England and Australia -- the Big Three in cricket -- "are disadvantaged as they play more games against each other".
'We have seen both teams not having played Test matches for a couple of months. So, it is a one-off. Anything can happen. I will sit on the fence'
Dravid insisted his team is not feeling any pressure going into the World Test Championship final against Australia.
The match might end in a draw if inclement weather continues to play spoilsport.
Warner has also taken aim at his Ashes nemesis England veteran pacer Stuart Broad, implying that he will not be the force that derailed the opening batter's 2019 trip this time.
South Africa are the World Test champions and skipper Temba Bavuma wants them to play like it and prove their credentials in the two-Test series against India beginning on Friday.
BJ Watling will be retiring from international cricket after the tour of England.
Kohli didn't name anyone but expressed his displeasure at some of the players not showing enough intent to score runs
Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's.
Shubman Gill celebrated his maiden Test series win as India completed a 2-0 sweep over West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
New Zealand vice-captain Tom Latham says losing the first day to rain will not change their approach to team selection.
To express solidarity with those affected, Team India will wear black armbands, the BCCI said in a statement.
Former pacer Venkatesh Prasad feels that a high-on-resources India has got all bases covered to get past a high-on-confidence New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final, starting in Southampton from June 18.
