In a gripping encounter at the majestic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a spectacular catch by India’s Virat Kohli off Mohammed Shami’s delivery dismissed Australia’s stalwart David Warner, providing a vital edge during the intense final of the Cricket World Cup 2023. Earlier in the day, Kohli nearly grasped an arduous opportunity on the very first ball; however, he certainly didn’t let the second slip away, catching the edge comfortably and igniting celebrations across the stands awash with Indian supporters.
As Shami’s wicket brought his tally to an impressive 23 dismissals, he now stands tied at the top of the World Cup’s leading wicket-takers list alongside Australia’s Adam Zampa. The duo’s performance formed a defining part of the narrative as they pitched their teams onto the world stage.
Australia, having won the toss and chosen to field, set India the task of building a defendable total first up. Despite the slow and dry pitch conditions that seemed to favor the bowlers, Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and KL Rahul managed to stand their ground, scoring 54 and 66 runs, respectively, after captain Rohit Sharma’s attacking innings of 47 runs. But it was Australia’s Mitchell Starc, with his lethal left-arm pace, who caused the most damage returning figures of 3-55. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood also bagged two wickets each, bringing an end to India’s innings at 240 all out after 50 overs.
In a remarkable feat behind the stumps, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis secured five catches, a record for a World Cup final, becoming one of the architects of Australia’s disciplined performance in the field.
The match had its fair share of drama and flair from both sides. Rohit Sharma made his intentions clear early on with a towering six, followed by a four, but his opening partner Shubman Gill fell for four runs to Starc. Kohli’s start was measured, but he quickly upped the ante with a trio of boundaries off Starc which electrified the home crowd.
Introducing spin into the equation, Australia brought on Glenn Maxwell, who achieved a major breakthrough, claiming the crucial wicket of Rohit. The Indian captain’s miscalculated shot soared towards Travis Head, who made an incredible catch in the outfield.
India, who had not lost a game in their last ten outings, found themselves in a precarious position at 81-3 when Cummins dismissed the promising Shreyas Iyer, coming off a streak of two centuries, for only four runs.
The calm and collected Kohli was then accompanied by Rahul, and together, they embarked on a calculated 67-run stand that was momentarily interrupted by a pitch invader advocating a pro-Palestinian cause.
The audience witnessed a lengthy phase without a boundary, lasting over 16 overs, as Australia’s bowlers, coupled with rigorous fielding, curtailed run-scoring opportunities for the batsmen. Breaking the silence, Kohli notched up his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score of the tournament, and Rahul slashed a boundary off Maxwell to relieve some pressure.
Cummins then created a moment of eerie calm in the stadium as he dismissed Kohli, who misjudged a short delivery, chopping it back onto his stumps. The stupendous batsman, who had just overtaken Sachin Tendulkar with a record 50th ODI century against New Zealand in the semi-finals, left the field in a mixed state of shock and disappointment to a score of 765 runs with an exceptional average of over 95 in the tournament.
As the innings approached its culmination, Rahul showed resilience, reaching a fifty in 86 balls. However, his efforts weren’t enough to cement a solid total as Starc later claimed his wicket and India’s lower order succumbed swiftly, setting a target of 241 for Australia.
With this match holding the promise of delivering new world champions, the Cricket World Cup 2023 has lived up to its billing as a crucible for cricketing excellence and drama.
The outcome of this final will either crown Australia as a six-time winner or bestow India with their third title following their past successes in 1983 and 2011. Stay updated with the latest World Cup 2023 updates and schedules by following sports updates on various platforms and downloading the dedicated Cricket apps.
(With AFP inputs)