India’s hopes of winning a third World Cup were crushed on Sunday in Ahmedabad by Australia. India were all out for 240, with Australia starving them after scoring 80 runs in the first ten overs. While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami got the hosts off to a good start in their defence, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne closed the door with a 192-run partnership. Head scored 137 off 120 balls, while Labuschagne was on 58 off 110 balls and Australia won by six wickets.
In the lead-up to the match, India had been the dominant team and the favourites to win the World Cup. They had won all their matches up to the final by huge margins, including a six-wicket victory against Australia in their tournament opener. On the other hand, Australia began the tournament with two major defeats before winning every remaining match.
Head fell off the ball that was, in the end, the second last ball of the tournament, the fifth ball of Mohammed Siraj’s 43rd over. Glenn Maxwell finished it off by taking two runs off the first ball he faced.
Sachin Tendulkar with the Indian team. pic.twitter.com/6JshYuzDsd
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 19, 2023
This was followed by scenes of contrasting emotions. While the happy Australians went onto the field to hug the two batters who were jumping with joy, the Indian players’ shoulders dropped and they pulled themselves off their respective fielding positions. Throughout the award ceremony, the players and team management were depressed and India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar stepped out and spoke with them.