India’s 10-match winning run at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 ended in the final with a six-wicket loss against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
Australia completely outplayed the Men in Blue in a one-sided contest to claim their 6th World Cup title.
India started well with both bat and ball. However, a lack of boundaries and partnerships saw India get bowled out on 240 in 50 overs before composed knocks from Travis Head (137 off 120) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out in 110) guided Australia to their sixth ODI World Cup title in 43 overs.
This was India’s second ODI World Cup final against Australia and third in ICC events. India lost the 2003 World Cup final at Johannesburg by 125 runs and suffered a 209-run defeat in the ICC World Test Championships final earlier this year.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Australia’s decision paid off as they restricted India to a total of 240 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Despite a strong start from Rohit Sharma, who scored 47 runs off 31 balls, and a steady innings from Virat Kohli (54 runs off 63 balls), India lost wickets at regular intervals.
KL Rahul top-scored for India with a patient 66 off 107 balls.
India went 16 overs without a boundary after Shreyas Iyer’s wicket. In fact, Pat Cummins (34/2) completed his quota of 10 overs without conceding a boundary. Leg spinner Adam Zampa (44/1) was economical. Though Josh Hazlewood (60/2) and Mitchell Starc (55/3) went for runs, they picked up wickets consistently to restrict India to 240.
Chasing a target of 241, David Warner and Travis Head hit Jasprit Bumrah for 15 runs in the first over of the Australian batting innings. Mohammed Shami dismissed David Warner in the next over.
Jasprit Bumrah sent Mitchell Marsh (15 off 15) and Steven Smith (4 off 9) back cheaply, reducing Australia to 47/3 inside seven overs.
A 192 runs partnership for 4th wicket between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne took the game away from India.
Travis Head played a magnificent innings, scoring a brilliant 137 runs off 120 balls, including 15 fours and 4 sixes. Marnus Labuschagne contributed with a steady 58 off 110 balls.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the most successful bowler, taking 2 wickets for 43 runs in his 9 overs. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj also picked up a wicket each, but couldn’t prevent Australia from clinching the title.
India came into the final with 10 wins on the trot. Kohli ended as the top-scorer at the 2023 ODI World Cup with 765 runs while Mohammed Shami, with 24 wickets, was the top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
