Hapless India lost to the Aussie assault in the World Cup ’23 Finale
By Sunil Sarpal
Indian PM Narendra Modi and Australian Deputy PM, Richard Marles Congratulate Australian Captain Pat Cummins
It is not digestible that India lost to Aussies in the CWC ’23 finals while winning all 10 matches played on the trot. Even in the build up to the final, India beat Aussie comprehensively. But India’s performance in the final is not worth taking note of. Number of blemishes on the part of India are the cause of concern.
A paltry score of 240 runs was not a difficult target for opposition and that too Aussies.
The Ahmedabad pitch where the ball was not coming on to bat at rapid pace was not an easy pitch to bat on. The pitch too assisted spinners, as well. The life was not a cake walk for batters. In a situation like this, application was the key which Aussie’s Travis Head did to perfection. It was not easy for Head in the middle but he stood his ground after being beaten invariably. He posted a resolute century for Aussie cause. Head turned out to be the difference between India’s victory or defeat.
Travis Head – Match Winner
Team India definitely is a top class team but in key matches they are in total disarray.
Shubham Gill’s shot was not on, playing an airy fairy shot at a crucial juncture was the first turning point of the match. That turned the tide in Australia’s favour. Gill is the most important cog in indian line up. Aussies took full advantage with early in-roads and put a break on the run-rate.
Iyer too was undone by Cummins’s special and India’s ship was dismantled by these two important scalps.
Rohit, Kohli and Rahul were in good nick but could not extend their innings to centuries.
Surya looked the most vulnerable of the lot because his game is stylized in T-20 mode. But this happens to be a situation when wickets were tumbling in regular intervals and Surya’s stay in the middle became absolutely inevitable. He was always found in two-minds whether to go for his shots or play a restrained knock. Surya never looks at ease when in defensive mode.
Three players were primarily responsible for India’s dismal game – GILL, IYER AND SURYA.
Heads Roll as AUSSIES Celebrate
Among Indian pacers, in particular, Bumrah was unlucky not to have gotten the edges of the bat. He was swinging the ball enormously but of not much avail.
Another disappointing factor was KL Rahul ‘s show behind the stumps.
There is a saying that the captain should not tinker with the winning ways. Rohit did this mistake by opting to open the attack with Bumrah and Shami and not with Bumrah and Siraj. Shami comes in as a first change. Pundits will not comment on this change because Shami is the highest wicket taker in the tournament.
To conclude, Aussies is a team well equipped to play key matches in style which they did to perfection and lifted the ICC Trophy.
I think player of the stature of Rohit Sharma should have played sensibly. He just threw away his wicket at wrong time. With three double centuries to his name, he should have played long. Secondly when Australia had three wickets down for 47, he continued with spinners without any slip where two catches were gone. I think, when calm approach was needed, he took risks and when aggression was required, he did not place any fielder at slip. Kohli and Rahul just played according to situation as they knew, after them they could hardly rely on other batsmen. Even Surya has had a dismal World Cup and he at best is t 20 player.
The problem in this country is that everybody is a cricket expert except the players and the coaches
We can ascribe 10 reasons for the defeat
The reasons given in article are all in hindsight and have been borrowed from what has been said by the experts
India has lost 5 finals in last 10 years
There is something wrong with the mindset at the crunch situations
Aus are the team who perform best at big stage , big matches and at crunch situation . They find ways to peak at right time .
Here yesterday two reasons why we lost
1) Despite a decent start our batting failed to muster 300 runs . The wicket was slow with variable pace
2) The wicket eased out during Aus innings . The ball was not reversing , swinging or spinning after 47/3
Aussie batsmen took time and negated the pressure
Excellent planning by them , strategy to field first clinched
Plus most of all the hype created all around added to the pressure
Nazar laga di
It is a democratic country. Critics are found in every nook and corner.