In a gripping World Cup final that saw a clash of cricketing titans, Australia’s seasoned players stood tall, leveraging their vast experience to restrict a previously unstoppable Indian batting lineup to a modest total of 240 all out at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Despite Virat Kohli and KL Rahul registering half-centuries, the day belonged to the Australians, who excelled in all facets of the game. A closer examination reveals the pivotal moments and strategies that swung the match Australia’s way.
From the outset of the tournament, Rohit Sharma batted with remarkable aggression, typified by a strike rate of 126. On finals day, he upped the ante even further, scoring at a striking rate of 151. His clear intent was to counter Australia’s potent new ball attack, and he did so effectively by dispatching pacer Josh Hazlewood for two towering sixes early on. Unfortunately for India, Rohit’s promising innings was cut short; Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin lured him into an ambitious shot only for Travis Head to execute a stunning running catch in the outfield, stalling India’s charge.
Australia’s fielding was another crucial element in their victory. Known for their prowess in the field, the Australians raised their already high standards, showcasing why they are regarded as one of the best fielding units in the world. Alongside Head’s spectacular catch, David Warner made several athletic saves at the boundary, thwarting the Indian batsmen’s attempts to score freely and forcing them into a more cautious approach, a deviation from their otherwise assertive style this tournament.
The turning point came with the dismissals of the nervous-looking Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, both playing in their first 50-over World Cup final. Gill’s uneasy stay at the crease concluded when he mistimed a pull shot off Mitchell Starc, delivering a simple catch to Adam Zampa. For Shreyas, who entered this match on the back of two successive centuries, his outing was short-lived, lasting a mere three deliveries before Pat Cummins dismissed him, trapping him in the crease with movement off the seam.
In the midst of this top-order collapse, the partnership of Kohli and Rahul provided a steadying influence. The duo carefully adapted to the pitch and built a critical 67-run stand for the fourth wicket. Despite the lack of boundary scoring, their measured batting saw India partially recover until Kohli, on 54, was undone by Cummins, chopping the ball onto his stumps. Rahul’s composed knock of 66 continued until his dismissal, leaving India to grapple with a rebuilding task.
As the architectural engineer of Australia’s triumph, Captain Cummins played his part to perfection. With a bowling run-rate greater than six coming into the match, and 13 wickets from 10 matches, it was a strategic masterclass from Cummins as he oversaw his bowlers restrict India’s scoring. Alongside Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood accounted for five wickets between them, using a variety of bowling variations to compensate for the pitch offering little assistance to pace bowlers. The spin contingent of Zampa, Maxwell, and Head exerted a chokehold during the middle overs, seldom allowing the Indian batsmen to find the boundary ropes.
Two significant scoring droughts characterized India’s batting efforts—the Rahul-Kohli partnership that yielded a solitary boundary and the final ten overs when only two boundaries were scored by Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Ultimately, Australia’s combination of veteran insight, refined fielding, and shrewd bowling setups entrapped an Indian side known for its batting flair, securing a momentous victory for the visitors in the summit clash.