A clever TVC that integrates the nation’s present mood and moment marketing is doing the rounds where India’s most recent 50-over World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni is seen joining a cricket panel on what looks like a news television studio. The commercial shows Dhoni asking his fellow panelists not to jinx Team India’s chances at the 2023 ICC World Cup by discussing India’s chances. ‘Mat Bol’, as the catch line goes, till India wins the Cup. Neatly done as it is, even the staunchest of MSD fans will do just the opposite starting today. We all will. That’s because Team India starts their campaign against fiercest rivals Australia in Chennai on Sunday, in what promises to be an epic showdown.

The 2019 finalists rang the opening bell in a one-way classic chase that got defending champions England bested by a rampaging Kiwi batting approach. Six other nations too have displayed their wares in a tournament that surely looks to be encouraging batting feasts so far, but all that will slip into the background as the iconic Chepauk sets about to play host to what is surely world cricket’s top rivalry, one that has seen some epics, particularly at the said venue.

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In Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill and Virat Kohli, India possess perhaps the strongest Top 3, but with Gill laid low by dengue, the flashing blade of Ishan Kishan who's been in terrific nick, might be given the nod to open the innings with Rohit. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s return gives the middle order more muscle, so much so that even a Suryakumar Yadav could be cooling his heels in the dressing room.

On a "black soil" Chennai pitch that’s certainly going to turn, three spinners are likely India’s go-to in this lung-opener. Ravindra Jadeja and a born-again (in white ball cricket) Kuldeep Yadav are automatic choices, and it will be perhaps a travesty to not play the wily R Ashwin, who’s made a stirring comeback to the shorter format having barely played any in the past six years, yet conjuring new tricks by the hour.

Jasprit Bumrah made the nation sweat over his prolonged injury-induced absence, but his return has been nothing short of good news for the team, as is the form of Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, though only one of them are likely to partner Bumrah with the new ball.

It is here that coach Rahul Dravid will look at Hardik Pandya bringing in the extra dimension. A fully fit Pandya can crank up the pace, and bowling full tilt, will be the perfect third seamer, even as he doubles up as one of the most devastating finishers at the death, bringing much needed all-round heft.

The Aussies aren't any pushovers either. The last two ODI series that they lost comprehensively to South Africa and India provide no markers for this team. Full of battle smarts and gun performers, the five-time champions maybe coming into this tournament a little under the radar, but on matchday, they make the real noise.

Seven of the likely starting XI are 2015 World Cup winners. David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc played and won the final against Brendon McCullum's New Zealand, even as Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins collected their winners medals as part of the squad.

Warner and Smith in particular have been in great nick of late, and would look to make this a memorable swansong. And the pedigreed Mitch Marsh knows a thing or two about big-game hunting. A handy bowler who's also an explosive opener in the shorter format, he wouldn't need to look any further than father Geoff for inspiration. Marsh Sr. struck a century the last time the Aussies played India at this venue in the 1987 World Cup and proved to be a tour de force as Allan Border's team scripted a fairytale triumph.

Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey and Marcus Stoinis present enough batting heft, even as the team awaits the return of Travis Head from injury.

It's the bowling though that could be tested in the variety of venues the Aussies will look to stride through to make it to the knockout stages. Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood delivered the T20 World Cup, but a 50-over slugfest on batting beauties is a different ballgame. Notably, it's only Hazlewood who's enjoyed bowling on Indian pitches as compared to the other two who have seemed a long way off from their best bowling here.

Add to it the skeletal spin department that will look to primarily depend on Adam Zampa and a couple of part-timers, the Aussies will have to marshal their stocks well enough as the tournament progresses.

Hosts India are already burdened by the weight of expectations, a common refrain for the average fan who wants victory at all costs, and will look to the peerless Rohit Sharma and the incomparable modern day great Virat Kohli to guide them to an encore of 2011. And the journey starts today with the Aussies staring them in the face in Chennai.

Sanjeeb Mukherjea is a sports television personality. An award-winning anchor-journalist, Mukherjea now doubles up as host and commentator for major sports broadcasting networks in India.