Australia defeated host country India by six wickets on Sunday to win a record-tying sixth men’s cricket World Cup, against the odds and an unsupportive home crowd in Ahmedabad.
After dominating much of the competition and building pressure in this cricket-mad country that has been waiting 12 years for another one-day championship, India narrowly failed to live up to national hopes.
However, Australia’s smart bowling caused its nearly unbeatable batting lineup to crumble, and Travis Head’s outstanding 137 off 120 balls spearheaded Australia’s run chase as it coasted to victory and another World Cup triumph.
India got out to a blistering start, matching the record for a men’s World Cup final with 80 runs in the opening powerplay. When he struck a massive six into the seats, Captain Rohit Sharma sent off both real and figurative fireworks that burst over the stadium.
Soon after, Glenn Maxwell’s bowling caused a leading edge, and Rohit was caught by a superb Head. Not long later, Shreyas Iyer was out, shocking the Indian fans and changing the rules of the game.
As the strain mounted, the run rate decreased as Virat Kohli and KL Rahul worked to gradually restore India’s innings. When Rahul struck a boundary for the first time in 16 overs, it appeared as though the strain was lessening. However, Kohli was out for 54, cutting on to his stumps following a ball from Australia skipper Pat Cummins.
To prevent India’s batters from getting into a rhythm, Cummins switched his bowlers regularly. As a result, no partnership truly developed to contribute a significant score after Kohli was dismissed.
Although it always appeared like a tough target to defend, Rahul struggled to 66 off 107 balls and the tail contributed some significant runs to take India to a decent total.
Soon after, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh lost, leaving Australia 47-3, and suddenly, India had the upper hand. The audience erupted in thunderous applause with each move and error, eager for India to get a second wicket and consolidate its lead.
However, an incredible Head—who won player of the match—and Marnus Labuschagne, who amassed 58 runs, formed a combination that effectively ended India’s chances of winning.
The past three World Cups had been won by the organizing country. Given that India now holds the top slot in the world rankings, it was anticipated that the trend would keep going, especially at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which has 132,000 seats.