Ahmedabad, NFAPost: In a stunning turn of events at the ODI World Cup final, India’s hopes of securing a third title were dashed as Australia emerged victorious with a six-wicket win. The cricket-crazed nation now finds itself in mourning after witnessing an unexpected collapse by the Indian team.
Australia’s triumph in the final marked their record-extending sixth World Cup title, showcasing their enduring dominance in the tournament that traces its origins back to 1975.
Sent into bat, India posted a below-par total of 240, despite notable contributions from Rohit Sharma (47 off 31 balls), Virat Kohli (54 off 63), and KL Rahul (66 off 107). However, their efforts fell short as Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc with figures of 3/55, kept the Indian batsmen in check.
Travis Head, replicating his match-winning performance from the WTC final against India in June, played a pivotal role once again. Head’s spectacular innings of 137 off 120 balls steered Australia to victory in just 43 overs.
The Indian team had raised hopes by dismissing three Australian wickets for 47 runs, but a resilient 192-run partnership between Head and Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out) firmly shut the door on India’s aspirations.
Australia’s victory was not only attributed to their batting prowess but also to a stellar display of bowling and fielding. The evening dew further favoured Australia, making batting more manageable on a slow and dry surface.
For India, the defeat in the final is particularly disheartening, given their status as the only unbeaten side in the tournament with a flawless record of 10 consecutive wins leading up to the final. The loss adds to India’s World Cup woes, with their last title coming in 2011 and their last ICC trophy in the form of the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Over the past decade, India has faced setbacks in various ICC events, including losses in the 2014 World T20 final, the 2016 World T20 semifinal, the 2017 Champions Trophy final, the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal, the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal, and consecutive runner-up finishes in the 2021 and 2023 World Test Championship cycles.
In the wake of this defeat, Indian cricket enthusiasts find themselves grappling with the disappointment of yet another missed opportunity on the global stage, while Australia celebrates its undisputed reign as ODI world champions.
