The Indian cricket fraternity is still nursing the wound of the recent Cricket World Cup final, where despite a stellar performance throughout the tournament, the Rohit Sharma-led team couldn’t clinch the coveted trophy. The side, boasting the best batter, Virat Kohli, and the best bowler, Mohammed Shami, of the tournament, faltered at the final hurdle against a determined Australian team on November 19, an outcome that shattered the dreams of a billion fans.
Kapil Dev, the legendary cricketer who captained India to its first ODI World Cup triumph in 1983, expressed both his support and his own sense of loss following the defeat. “Today’s cricketers, sorry they couldn’t win the World Cup, but they played well. I know in our mind, winning is everything. But the way of play is more important. Other people had also come here to play. Other people played better (on the) last day. We should respect that,” he stated, in his conversation with Sportstar.
Dev did not hide his emotions as he continued, “I’m disappointed and disheartened that they played so well and yet they couldn’t win the trophy. But (it) doesn’t matter. Let’s hope what we didn’t understand this time, we’ll learn and do it better. That’s the way we are.”
The final was a tough contest, with India setting a target of 240 runs over their allotted 50 overs. Despite challenging batting conditions, significant contributions were made by the Indian top order—Rohit Sharma scored a brisk 47 off 31 balls, Virat Kohli anchored with 54 off 63, and KL Rahul contributed a 107-ball 66. However, the Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc who bagged 3 wickets for 55 runs, turned the screws on India. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with two wickets each, rounding off a disciplined bowling performance by the Australian team.
In the chase of a seemingly modest total of 241, the Indian bowlers initially had Australia reeling at 47 for 3 wickets. But Travis Head’s masterclass innings of 137 off 120 balls and Marnus Labuschagne’s supportive 58 off 110 helped Australia recover and eventually sail to a six-wicket victory.
After the match, an introspective Rohit Sharma reflected on the team’s performance, “The result has not gone our way. We were not good enough today. We tried everything we could but I feel wicket got slightly better to bat under lights.” He refused to use the conditions as an excuse, though he acknowledged their impact, “We knew under lights it would be slightly better to bat, but don’t want to give that as an excuse. We didn’t put enough runs on the board.”
The match, and the tournament as a whole, served as an intense cricketing spectacle and has been buzzing in conversations and media updates. As the Indian cricket community comes to terms with the result, encouragement and analysis pour in from all quarters, with a common hope that the lessons from this defeat will translate into greater triumphs in future contests.
The World Cup journey may have ended in heartbreak for India, but the game of cricket with its unpredictable nature continues to captivate millions, as fans and enthusiasts eagerly await the next opportunity for the Men in Blue to claim their place on the global stage. The focus now shifts to learning from the setbacks and strategizing for the upcoming fixtures, as the World Cup 2023 schedules are already drawing attention.
As cricket pundits and fans alike dissect the performances and speculate on the future, the larger cricketing narrative moves forward with the anticipation of another chance for redemption and perhaps, glory. The spirit of the game endures, as does the passion of its followers, who stand ready to support Team India through the ebb and flow of this cherished sport.