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India finished with the tournament’s leading run-scorer and player of the series, Virat Kohli (765 runs), and the leading wicket-taker, Mohammed Shami (24 wickets).They notched up many landmarks, including Virat’s historic 50th ODI ton. But when the curtains came down, it wasAustralia that had the ODI World Cup — their sixth in all, out of the 13 that have been awarded so far. India and the West Indies are a distant joint second, with two apiece.
The man who made the difference for Australia was back home in Adelaide, his hand in a cast, when the tournament began. Travis Head missed the first five games of Australia’s campaign, but the management refused to replace him, even though it meant they were one man short in their squad of 15.
World Cup 2023 Final: Australia beat India by 6 wickets to win record-extending sixth title
Head repaid their faith many times over, putting the Indian attack to the sword in Sunday’s final, just as he had in the World Test Championship final against India at the Oval five months ago.
Chasing 241, Australia looked like they were stumbling when Jasprit Bumrah conjured magic and produced a dream slower delivery in his fourth over to trap Steve Smith leg-before. The delivery had struck him outside off-stump, but the batter chose not to review. At 47/3, with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh gone, and Bumrah and Shami breathing fire, Motera was throbbing. The fans expected magic again from Indian bowlers, who had delivered throughout the World Cup.
What an amazing day! Just thrilled to be a part of it. It’s a lot better than seeing the World Cup on the couch at home (he missed Australia’s first 5 matches due to injury)
Travis Head
It wasn’t to be.
Head (137 off 120 balls, 15×4, 4×6), after surviving some hellish deliveries from both Bumrah and Shami, displayed skill and steel. He was ably partnered by Marnus Labuschagne (58 n.o off 110 balls, 4×4), who was not even named in the preliminary Aussie squad for the tournament and only got in after an injury to spinner Ashton Agar. The two added 192 runs for the fourth wicket to soothe Aussie nerves and guide the team home with six wickets and 42 balls to spare. Their stand broke a billion hearts.
What we’ve achieved today is unbelievable… India have been the team of the tournament, but you knew if you play your best cricket, you have a chance
Marnus Labuschagne
In sport there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent and that’s the aim for us tomorrow
Pat Cummins on final-eve
After going hard in the powerplay, Head settled down. With little asking rate pressure, there was no need to attempt big shots. Those came only when the game was in the bag as Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav were hit for sixes to hasten the end.
Head and Labuschagne apart, Aussies need to also thank their bowlers, especially skipper Pat Cummins. After he impressed with the ball, not conceding a boundary in his 10-over quota while taking 2-34, he also dazzled with his tactics as captain.
Cummins won a crucial toss and fielded on a dry and slow pitch that was expected to play better under lights. Indian batters were chained by the discipline and ability of the tall Aussie pacers to hit hard lengths. Tigerish fielding by the inner circle where David Warner, Labuschagne, Smith and Glenn Maxwell cut off the singles added to the pressure as India were unable to break free and were bowled out for 240 in 50 overs.
India had gone 97 balls without a boundary from the 10th over to the 27th as KL Rahul laboured to a 107-ball 66 and was unable to rotate strike. Kohli scored a skillful 54 (63 balls, 4×4) but the damage had been done. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who was the protagonist in powerplay again with a quickfire 47 (31 balls, 4×4, 3×6) played his customary impact innings, which enabled India neutralise the early loss of Shubman Gill.
But Rohit departed, caught brilliantly by Head running backwards, trying to take one risk too many off the last over in the powerplay, miscuing a lofted stroke over cover off Maxwell. The reaction of a pumped-up Maxwell and the rest of the Aussies indicated they now had control. Cummins dismissed the in-form Shreyas Iyer caught behind and then broke a crucial stand of 67 between Kohli and Rahul by getting Kohli to chop on for 54, his ninth 50-plus score in 11 games.
Once Mitchell Starc dismissed Rahul, India had no set batter to accelerate. They ended with a below-par score and a question — would it have been different if they had played on a true, fresh pitch instead of a used, slow one?
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