The Indian cricket team faltered at the very last moment in their attempt to win the World Cup. Australia cruised to a six-wicket victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday after Rohit Sharma and company were bowled out for 240. We examine the five pivotal moments that resulted in India’s elimination in the championship match.
The Indian opener struggled to find a rhythm when put to bat on a sluggish pitch. In the final, Rohit Sharma batted with ease at one end, while Shubman Gill was unable to give India a good start. The key to the team’s previous 10-game tournament unbeaten streak was a strong beginning run.
The Australian bowlers were adept at reading the conditions and used slower deliveries to prevent the Indian hitters from taking early strokes. Gill left the game early without having a big effect on the score. In a similar vein, Rohit Sharma carried on attacking Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in the first part of the innings until Glenn Maxwell removed him.
After Shubman Gill was removed from the game in the fifth over, Rohit Sharma persisted in using his attacking skills, scoring 47 runs off of 31 balls before being removed in the tenth over.
At 80/2 at that point, India was comfortably ahead despite the captain’s absence. But India lost the match in the following 20 overs. After Shreyas Iyer (4) was dismissed, India were 81/3 in the eleventh over.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli started to shore up the Indian innings. Together, they scored 67 runs for the fourth wicket. However, the Indian batters were restrained by the Australians. The Indian pair did not take many chances and did not succeed in taking the Australians by surprise. India could manage only 35 runs at one wicket loss in the 11–20 overs phase. India could only manage 37 runs for one wicket loss in the 21–30 overs phase. Over the course of the innings, India managed just 13 boundaries and three sixes.
On a slow pitch, Indian batsmen found it difficult to score; at one point, they were 148/4. Just now, Virat Kohli left after scoring 54 off 63 balls. To everyone’s astonishment, Ravindra Jadeja took the crease instead of Suryakumar Yadav, who was anticipated to partner KL Rahul in the middle. Although it was anticipated that the all-round player would help India score more runs, Jadeja was only able to muster a 22-ball 9 before heading back to the pavilion.
Looking back, it seems that India lost out on a chance when they didn’t bring Suryakumar Yadav up in the batting order. Known for his big-hitting ability, India might have scored more runs if the Mumbai hitter had entered the game sooner and performed in his usual manner.
The bowlers were crucial to India’s remarkable 10-match winning streak as they helped the team win matches. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s pace combination was especially useful in helping the side make early progress. But Rohit Sharma chose to open the bowling with Mohammed Shami and Bumrah on that pivotal day. Although Australia was reduced to 47/3 as a result of this choice, which had a promising start, India suffered because they chose not to provide the new Mohammed Siraj. Despite being a skilled new ball bowler, Siraj was less successful as the opening substitute, particularly when using an older ball during the middle overs.
India defended a small total early on and had Australia reeling at 47/3. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s early successes revived India’s chances of winning the game.
But the team was unable to take advantage of the favourable circumstances. The Men in Blue gave up the momentum after failing to put any pressure on the opposition.
With a 192-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58), Australia was able to navigate clear of trouble and secure an unprecedented sixth World Cup victory. Had India acted swiftly and taken advantage of Australia’s slow start, Rohit Sharma and company would have had a different end result.
