In a nail-biting final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australia emerged victorious, securing their 6th ICC Cricket World Cup title. This heartbreaking defeat for India marked the end of a stellar tournament for the team, which had dominated all 10 games leading up to the final.
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the crucial toss and elected to field first on a dry wicket. Despite a promising start by Rohit Sharma, his early dismissal, coupled with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer falling cheaply, set the tone for India’s innings. The slow and dry conditions made batting challenging, and the Indian batsmen struggled to build momentum.
A partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul aimed to stabilize the innings, but an unusual 12-over stretch without a single boundary hindered India’s run-scoring efforts. Despite their efforts, India managed to post a below-par score of 240.
The Indian bowlers, however, came out with determination, reducing Australia to 40-3 early in their innings. The initial breakthroughs fueled hopes of a comeback, but Travis Head‘s exceptional knock of 137 runs, coupled with the settling dew, turned the tide in Australia’s favor.
Amidst the defeat, Shreyas Iyer’s individual performance stood out. The number 4 batter for India had an outstanding World Cup, scoring two centuries, including a crucial one in the semi-final against New Zealand. Despite the loss, Iyer’s contributions were commendable, showcasing his talent on the global stage.
Shreyas Iyer Comes Out With An Emotional Message After India’s Heartbreaking Defeat In World Cup Final
Post-match, Shreyas Iyer took to social media, expressing his heartbreak and gratitude. On X (formerly Twitter), he shared his sentiments: “We’re heartbroken, it still hasn’t sunk in and it won’t for a while. My first World Cup was an experience that has taught me so much and made me grateful for everything that’s come my way. Thank you to the @BCCI, team management, support staff, my teammates, and you, the fans, for backing us from the beginning right up until the end. 🇮🇳❤️ And congratulations to the entire Australian team on a marvelous campaign 👏.”
Australia’s victory was not just about the final; their entire campaign was marked by outstanding performances. Travis Head’s century in the final showcased the depth of their batting, and their resilience in the face of early wickets highlighted their well-rounded team.
India will have a bitter pill to swallow. However, they will keep their heads held high. They performed like a champion team. They will now have the T20 World Cup 2024 in sight and will start the preparations with a 5-game T20I series against Australia starting on November 23.
