ICC World Cup 2023 IND vs AUS Final: What went Wrong

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between Australia and India was highly anticipated, with India entering the match as heavy favorites after an impressive winning streak. However, to the disappointment of Indian fans, Australia emerged victorious, claiming their sixth World Cup title. In this article, we will analyze the five crucial factors that contributed to India's defeat on that fateful day.

1. The Toss and Pitch Conditions

The toss played a significant role in the outcome of the match. Winning the toss gives the team the advantage of deciding whether to bat or bowl first, considering the prevailing pitch conditions. Unfortunately for India, Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, won the toss and elected to field. The pitch in Ahmedabad, which was heavily worn, surprised many experts and did not favor the Indian team as expected. It failed to suit their spinners and limit the impact of Australia's strike bowlers. This early setback significantly affected India's chances of a successful innings.

2. Shubman's early departure

The first blow to India's innings was dealt by the early exit of Shubman Gill. Unfortunately, Shubman was dismissed cheaply by Starc, as he attempted to play a pull shot on the leg side. He fell prey to Zampa's catch in only the 5th over of the game, scoring a mere 4 runs off 7 balls before his dismissal added to the team's total score.

The partnership at the top of the order between the Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill has proved to be instrumental in Team India's triumph. This partnership holds immense significance for the team as it sets the tone for the innings. It not only provides momentum to India but also allows the middle order to capitalize on it, resulting in more runs being added to the scoreboard. However, in this particular instance, India faced a setback as this partnership did not materialize as expected.

3. Rohit's dismissal and India's Struggle with Boundaries

India's batting performance was hindered by a prolonged period without boundaries. After a promising start by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer in the 11th over resulted in a boundary-less phase that lasted over an hour. The slow pitch and Pat Cummins' off-cutter troubled the Indian batsmen, leading to a lack of boundary scoring opportunities. Even towards the end of their innings, India failed to score a boundary for over an hour, further denting their chances of posting a competitive total.

4. The Dominance of Australia's Seamers

India's quick bowlers had been instrumental in their previous victories, but they were outperformed by Australia's seamers in the final. Josh Hazlewood's nagging line and length, combined with Mitchell Starc's aggression and Pat Cummins' variations in pace, proved to be a formidable challenge for the Indian batsmen. The slow and "sticky" wicket, as described by Ravi Shastri, favored the Australian seam attack. By the end of the innings, the ball had scuffed up, reversing the swing and making it difficult for India to reach a par score.

5. Australian Spinners Exploit the Conditions

While India relied on their spinners, the slow pitch in Ahmedabad seemed more favorable for Australia's spinners. Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa capitalized on the afternoon heat and extracted turn and bounce from the pitch. Despite the control and economy rates shown by India's spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, they went wicketless. The inability of India's spinners to make significant breakthroughs put them at a disadvantage in their quest for victory.

6. Indian Seamers Unable to Capitalize

The conditions under lights, coupled with the presence of dew, hampered India's seam bowlers' ability to make an impact. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj failed to make an impact as it was in the earlier league stage matches. The ball came onto the bat more easily during Australia's chase, and the moisture from the dew reduced the abrasive effect on the ball. The natural swing that was evident at the start of the match became less pronounced, diminishing India's chances of reversing the ball and putting pressure on the Australian batsmen. With the winning runs struck in the 43rd over, the opportunity for a late comeback had long passed.

Conclusion

Despite being the favorites to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, India faced several challenges that ultimately led to their defeat in the final against Australia. The toss, pitch conditions, lack of boundary scoring, dominance of Australia's seamers, and inability to capitalize with their own spin and seam bowlers all played a part in India's downfall. While it was a disappointing end to their campaign, India can take pride in their exceptional performance throughout the tournament. Cricket is a game of uncertainties, and it is these very uncertainties that make it so thrilling and unpredictable.