India’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final loss to Australia has left fans devastated. Despite winning 10 consecutive matches and being unbeaten throughout the tournament, India faltered at the final hurdle. Led by Pat Cummins, Australia defeated India by 6 wickets, securing their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup title.
Reflecting on the game, Cummins identified the wicket of Virat Kohli as his “deathbed moment.” In an interview with The Age, Cummins discussed the significance of this pivotal wicket. At 148/3, India seemed to be in control with Kohli and KL Rahul at the crease. However, Cummins produced a short of length delivery that resulted in Kohli getting an inside edge, causing the ball to hit the stumps.
Recalling the moment, Cummins described the atmosphere in the stadium after Kohli’s dismissal. “I was obviously very pumped. And then we’re in the huddle after that wicket, and Steve Smith says, ‘Boys, listen to the crowd for a second.’ And we just took a moment of pause, and it was as quiet as a library; 100,000 Indians there, and it was so quiet. I’ll savour that moment for a long time,” Cummins shared.
In the final, Australia successfully chased down a target of 241 runs thanks to Travis Head’s controlled innings of 137. Despite a shaky start, Australia recovered from being 47 for 3 and comfortably sealed the victory with seven overs to spare.
India’s batting effort was led by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who both scored half-centuries. Rohit Sharma also contributed with a quickfire 47 off 31 balls. However, their total of 240 proved insufficient against Australia’s strong batting lineup.
The loss in the final has left Indian fans heartbroken, as they had high hopes for the team after their impressive performance throughout the tournament. Australia, on the other hand, celebrated their sixth World Cup title, cementing their status as one of the most successful teams in ODI history.
Topics mentioned in this article: Cricket World Cup, India, Australia, Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Travis Head.
