IND vs AUS: A billion dreams shattered as Australia bag sixth World Cup title

Kangaroos secure impressive seven-wicket win while chasing India’s modest 241-run target.

IND vs AUS: A billion dreams shattered as Australia bag sixth World Cup title. Shattering India’s dream of winning another ICC tournament on their own soil, the Australia triumphed over the hosts in the all-important World Cup 2023 final to secure their sixth ODI title on Sunday.

Australia defeated India by six wickets in a lopsided match that decided the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

With at least four more victories than West Indies and India, who each have two World Cup championships under their belts, the formidable Australians secured an unprecedented sixth World Cup.

Despite losing three early wickets, left-handed batsman Travis Head shone for the victorious team with an incredible century.

Head showed no compassion on their opponents as they destroyed Indian bowlers all over the pitch, scoring 137 runs on 120 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes.

Collectively, the two batsmen put together a strong 192-run partnership that helped Australia win another title.

On India’s batting side, star batter Virat Kohli slammed half ton (54), whereas KL Rahul remained top scorer with 66 (107) aiding the hosts to cruise toward 240. The team was bowled out on the last ball of the 50th over.

India dominated in the leading ICC event with 300-plus scores but in final showdown, the team was bowled out at mere 240 as Kangaroos bowling attack restricted flow of runs after the first powerplay.

Skipper Rohit Sharma failed to score any big number and played quick 47 runs knock. Shubmain Gill and Sherayas Iyer returned early as duo contributed only 8 scores.

Mitchell Starc was on fire as he picked top batters with figures of 3/55, followed by skipper Cummins who got 2 scalps Hazlewood also got two wickets.

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl in the final clash of the ICC World Cup 2023 against India.

In the World Test Championship earlier this year in England, Australia defeated India to set up their Ashes visit, which they won by drawing the series.

With this victory versus India, Australia recorded an incredible hat-trick.

India cruised through the group stage, finishing top on a maximum 18 points having won all nine of their matches. India’s net run rate of 2.570 was far and away the best in the group stage.

On the other hand, Australia bounced back from defeats to India and South Africa in their opening matches, and sitting in last place on the table, before going on to win the remaining seven matches, and qualify with 14 points.

Meanwhile, ICC announced Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough, both from England, were the on-field umpires for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final.

The English duo took charge of the on-field duties during the all-important World Cup clash.

The Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.