After an impressive streak of 10 straight victories leading up to the World Cup final, India’s hopes were dashed as Australia emerged dominant on the slow pitch of Ahmedabad, grabbing their sixth men’s World Cup title in spectacular fashion. The Australian bowlers exerted a stranglehold on the Indian batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 240. It was then Travis Head’s blistering 120-ball 137 that drove Australia to a comfortable six-wicket win and solidified his place among World Cup legends.
Head’s masterclass in the semi-final and final matches etched his name alongside cricket titans such as Mohinder Amarnath, Aravinda de Silva, and Shane Warne, each of whom had made their mark by clinching Player of the Match awards in these crucial knockout games.
The chase, however, didn’t start smoothly as Australia found themselves in a spot of bother at 47/3, with Mohammed Shami, taking the new ball for the first time in the tournament, making an immediate impact. He removed David Warner early, and Jasprit Bumrah, despite a costly first over, bounced back to dismiss Mitchell Marsh and deceive Steven Smith with a slower delivery. Smith’s departure without a review raised early nerves within the Australian camp.
Yet all tension dissipated when Head joined forces with the ever-reliable Marnus Labuschagne. Together, they knitted a partnership of 192 runs, methodically dismantling India’s bowling attack. The pair mixed defense with timely aggression, and with Indian spinners unable to extract their usual magic from the pitch, Head and Labuschagne took control, with Head fiercely taking on Kuldeep Yadav with a big six and consistently scoring off Jadeja.
This partnership steered Australia away from danger and towards a commanding position, marking the only match in the tournament where Indian spinners failed to take a single wicket. The duo’s strategic boundary-hitting at the start of the return spells meant that India’s chance of finding a breakthrough was slipping away.
Australia’s victory was all but sealed when Head was dismissed, but by then, they only required two runs to triumph, which Glenn Maxwell swiftly secured with the winning runs.
Earlier in the day, Australia had laid the groundwork for their win with a masterclass in bowling from Pat Cummins and Co., taking full advantage of conditions after electing to field upon winning the toss. In front of an expectant crowd at capacity, the Australians had momentarily second-guessed their strategy as Rohit Sharma blazed away in the powerplay.
India appeared in control during the opening exchanges, with Sharma and Virat Kohli finding the boundary with ease. However, the momentum shifted as Australia introduced spin, reaping immediate rewards – Sharma was caught spectacularly by Head, and within moments, Shreyas Iyer edged Cummins to the keeper.
The twin setbacks necessitated a period of consolidation for India, with Kohli and KL Rahul anchoring the innings. Yet, the Australian bowlers maintained disciplined lines, and the scoring rate plummeted, underscored by a stretch of 97 balls without a boundary.
Cummins, with his cutters and controlled pace, was the spearhead of the bowling attack but even Kohli’s brilliant form, reflected in his ninth fifty of the tournament, could not pivot the innings in India’s favor. The mounting pressure soon culminated in Kohli chopping Cummins onto his stumps.
India sought to rejig their batting order by promoting Ravindra Jadeja, but the Australian bowlers stuck to their task with relentless precision. Hazlewood and Starc discovered reverse swing to exacerbate India’s plight, dispatching Jadeja and Rahul respectively.
With the tail exposed and Suryakumar Yadav unable to mount any substantial defiance, India wilted to be all out for 240, a total that proved to be insufficient in the face of Head’s calculated onslaught.
Brief Scores: India 240 all out (KL Rahul 66, Virat Kohli 54; Mitchell Starc 3-55, Pat Cummins 2-34) lost to Australia 241/4 in 43 overs (Travis Head 137, Marnus Labuschagne 58*) by 6 wickets.
The victory not only underscored Australia’s unparalleled legacy in World Cup history but also served as a testament to their strategic acumen and execution under pressure, qualities that have become synonymous with their cricketing ethos. As the Australian team celebrated their record-extending title, India was left to reflect on a campaign that promised much but crumbled on the final hurdle.