Pat Cummins, the Australian cricket captain, reflected on leading his team to World Cup triumph as the defining moment of his career, describing it as the “pinnacle in cricket.” The sentiment came after Australia’s emphatic six-wicket victory over hosts India in a high-stakes final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The win not only dashed the hopes of the home team but also marked a significant milestone in Cummins’s personal journey as both a player and a leader.
India, undefeated until the final with a streak of 10 consecutive wins, were unexpectedly subdued by Australia, who managed to limit the hosts to a modest score of 240 all out. Cummins, having made the crucial decision to bowl first, was clearly vindicated by the resulting dominance of his squad. He praised the euphoric ambience and the importance of the win, saying, “That’s huge, that’s the pinnacle in cricket, winning a World Cup, especially here in India, in front of a crowd like this.”
The triumphant final added to the already eventful year for Cummins. This March, he took an emotional break from a tour in India to spend time with his ailing mother, Maria, before she passed away. He shared an insight into his family’s support, revealing a heartfelt message from his father about the sacrifices made to represent Australia. “I know my family at home is watching, just got a message from dad saying he’s had a lot of 4:00 am wake-ups, not going to bed until 4:00 am, so he’s as pumped as anything. You sacrifice a lot to play for Australia and everyone in the team has, and we’ve spent a lot of this year away, but we do it for these moments.”
The final became memorable for a particular moment when India’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, who had set a new record for the most runs (765) at a single World Cup, was dismissed by Cummins for 54. His wicket brought a moment of stunned silence among the over 92,000 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Cummins, whose final figures were a formidable 2-34 in 10 overs, relished the experience, asserting that as an opposition player, there’s no greater feeling than silencing a partisan crowd, especially after removing a key player like Kohli.
Travis Head, named man of the match, was central to Australia’s successful chase, scoring a remarkable 137. Together with Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out), Head helped stabilize Australia’s innings after an early wobble at 47-3. Their partnership of 192 runs eventually led Australia to secure their record-extending sixth World Cup title, achieving the target with seven overs to spare. Head’s contribution was all the more extraordinary considering he had earlier sustained a hand injury that nearly excluded him from the World Cup.
Cummins hailed Head’s “phenomenal” performance and also acknowledged the gamble taken by the selectors and coach Andrew McDonald to include him in the squad. “We could have been made to look really silly if that didn’t pay off, but you got to take those risks to win a tournament,” Cummins added, commending the bold decisions that contributed to their success.
Throughout the year, the Australian cricket team had other notable performances, including retaining the Ashes during a 2-2 drawn series in England. Cummins expressed his admiration for Head’s approach to the game, embodying the qualities he desires in a cricket team — aggressive play, enjoying the game, pushing back the pressure onto the opposition, and maintaining high spirits.
In conclusion, Cummins reflected on the monumental year for the team, highlighting tours in India, the Ashes, and the World Test Championship. The World Cup win was the icing on the cake in a series of significant achievements. “It’s been a big year for everyone,” said Cummins, acknowledging the string of high-profile contests his team had engaged in. With a successful World Cup campaign now added to their storied record, the Australian team looks ahead to future challenges and opportunities to reinforce their place at the pinnacle of cricket.