(Cricket News) Australia crushed India in the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, securing a record-extending sixth world title. Travis Head’s fifth ODI century and a gritty fifty from Marnus Labuschagne destroyed India’s hopes as Australia comprehensively chased down 241 to win the match by six wickets and break a billion Indian hearts as their painfully long wait for an ICC title extends further. With this victory, Pat Cummins joined Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ponting, and Michael Clarke in an iconic list of Australian World Cup captains.

Travis Head became the third Australian batter to score a century in a World Cup final, after Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist. Head, who missed the first four games of this World Cup because of a broken finger, was out on 137 when Australia needed just two more runs to win. Towards the end, Head even went into a Ponting-like beast mode from the 2003 final in Johannesburg, recording the fourth-highest individual score in a World Cup final, behind Gilchrist’s 149 in 2007, Ponting’s 140, and Viv Richards’ 138.

The new-ball bowling combination of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami from India damaged Australia’s chase early on, taking out David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Steve Smith with just 47 runs needed. However, Head and Labuschagne combined to make a partnership of 192 runs, making the chase appear easier than many had thought.

The surface that Australia used to strangle India and give up just four boundaries in 40 overs was eased out in the second innings, with the ball coming on to the bat nicely and negating the spin threat posed by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. This was not Head’s only contribution. He had dismissed Rohit Sharma earlier in the day with an amazing catch that was a serious contender for catch of the tournament.

After getting hammered for 28 off the first two overs, Shami, opening the bowling ahead of Siraj, got Warner out caught behind, and when Bumrah took out Marsh three overs later, the stadium erupted. Things went wrong for Team India from the first ball of the second innings itself, when a thick edge of David Warner flew between the second and third slips, with neither Virat Kohli nor Shubman Gill attempting to go for the catch.

Australia were in a tough position at 47/3, but after the opener from Australia overcame a tough spell from the top wicket-taker, the floodgates opened and Australia amassed runs at a stroll.  

By the end of the 24th over, both sides were at 126/3, but Australia was scoring boundaries at will, while Bumrah, who was expected to break the partnership, returned for his second spell in the 28th over and was hammered for 14. The writing was clearly on the wall.

Australia was spot on from the moment they won the toss and elected to bowl first, thanks to Cummins’ astute reading of the conditions. Rohit did his thing, hitting 47 off 40 balls, but India was unprepared for the combined collapse of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

At 81/3, Kohli and KL Rahul played in a defensive manner, leaving Australia to bowl them out of their skins. The two made batting look as though they were in Adelaide on Day 1. Australia batted on the surface as if it were playing on a flat wicket in Pakistan. 

When it came time for both to go, Kohli and Rahul batted with attrition, but they both fell victim to the slower bouncer from Cummins, and Rahul nicked Mitchell Starc, reversing the ball in all its glory. India’s last hope, Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav, were bowled down by Australia. The target of 241 was too little for Australia to chase, as they chased it with seven overs to spare.

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