In the aftermath of a crushing World Cup final defeat, India’s seasoned spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, took to social media to express both sorrow and admiration following the match. Although faced with the disappointment of India’s unaccomplished dreams, he did not hold back praise for the prowess of the Australian cricket team, who claimed their sixth ODI World Cup title in a spectacular fashion. In a match that will be remembered for a combination of spellbinding bowling and explosive batting by Australia, they secured their triumph over India at the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium this Sunday.
Ashwin’s social media post exuded a mix of heartache and commendation. Remarkable individual performances throughout the World Cup were highlighted, and Ashwin made special mention of his fellow teammates Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah. Nonetheless, his reverence for the Australian side was manifest as he admitted their dominance on the field: “Mighty mighty heartbreak last night. Everyone in the team had several days to remember during this campaign, and special mentions to @imVkohli, @MdShami11, @ImRo45, and @Jaspritbumrah93. However, I can’t help but applaud the giants of modern-day cricket ‘Australia’. What they did on the field yesterday was just unbelievable. Congrats on their 6th World Cup win,” wrote Ashwin.
As Sunday’s game unfolded, it initially seemed that India had laid the groundwork for a competitive total. After losing opener Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma propelled the Men in Blue to a dynamic beginning, putting up a swift 47 off 31 balls. Despite this spirited start, after Rohit’s dismissal, India’s batting lineup struggled under pressure and ultimately folded for a modest total of 240 in their allotted 50 overs. Sharma’s explosive innings, alongside methodical contributions from Virat Kohli (54 in 63 balls) and KL Rahul (66 in 107 balls), failed to provide a commanding total on an increasingly challenging pitch.
The Australian attack, spearheaded by Mitchell Starc with figures of 3/55, and further supported by Captain Pat Cummins (2/34) and Josh Hazlewood (2/60), applied relentless pressure. Not to be sidelined, spinners Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell contributed with a wicket each, rounding off a disciplined bowling performance.
In response, Australia dealt with an early hitch in their chase, stumbling to 47/3 at one point, inviting pressure from the Indian bowlers. However, Travis Head’s stunning 137 off 120 balls, brimming with 15 fours and four sixes, alongside Marnus Labuschagne’s patient 58 off 110 balls, punctuated with four boundaries, seized control and cemented Australia’s road to victory. Their partnership left India devoid of counterplay, leading to a six-wicket win for the Aussies.
While India grapples with a bittersweet end to their World Cup journey, the road ahead buzzes with anticipation. Both the World Cup finalists, India and Australia, are preparing to clash in a series of five T20 International matches set to commence on Thursday in Visakhapatnam. Both teams will aspire to translate their World Cup form into success in the upcoming T20I encounters, with each side eager to fine-tune their strategies in the shorter format of the game.
As Australia revels in their momentous victory and India reflects on a campaign that promised much but ultimately fell a step short, the global cricketing community turns its attention to the fast-paced T20I series. Expectations are high, and the stakes are as competitive as ever in this cricketing duel between two formidable sides. Despite the heartache, Ashwin and the Indian team will look to the T20I series as a chance to display resilience and return stronger from their World Cup setback.