Two top-of-level teams encountered each other in a WTC 2023 Finale showdown. Australia was unable to make it into the final previous WTC cycle courtesy of being penalized for slow overrate, they kinda took revenge.
Australia bags their sixth trophy. Australia showed absolute resilience to win. Overall it was pure domination over India.
Summary
Australia was asked to bat first in overcast conditions by the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins on the toss said we would have to bowl first if we won the toss.
Many pundits criticized India’s decision to bench Ashwin including Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar who said
“With so many left-handers in the Australian XI, an off-spinner should have been there. I think that’s where India missed a trick”
Anyways India was up and running when Muhammad Siraj took Usman Khawaja for a duck in the third over. But their next wicket came in the 21st over when Warner gloved one to the wicketkeeper. Shami soon provided another breakthrough when he got Marnus Labuschagne for 26 runs.
Then the great partnership between Travis Head and Steve Smith came. The partnership of 285 runs changed the dynamics of the whole game.
Travis Head was the hero for Australia from their first inning, he scored a magnificent 163 runs off just 174 balls. And Steve Smith who was in a lot of talks because of his average at Oval, scored a magnificent ton.
Australia ended their first inning on 469(Head 163, Smith 121, Siraj 4-108). India looked comfortable at the crease until the captain (Cummins) got the captain (Rohit) on 15 runs, Then India lost 3 back-to-back wickets.
India was 71 for four then an amazing stand of 71 runs between Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkiya Rahane saved them from humiliation. Another partnership involving Ajinkiya Rahane was with Shurdul Thakur of 109 runs.
India ended their innings on 296(Rahane 89, Thakur 51, Cummins 3-83), Rahane and Thakur were the heroes for the Indians in their first innings.
Australia had the lead of 173 starting their second inning. Siraj once again provided a breakthrough when he got David Warner for one run. Then Umesh Yadav got Usman Khawaja for 13 runs, Long story short Australia declared when their lead was 443 and Australia had 47 overs to be bowled on the fourth day.
India lost three wickets on day four. India still had some hope on day fifth with 280 runs more to achieve and Virat Kohli yet to be dismissed
But this hope didn’t last long when Scott Boland got Virat Kobli for the second time in the game, Virat was 49 and dreams were already shattered for India with this wicket. Scott got Jadeja 1 ball after Kohli’s wicket. Soon India fell to 234 runs in their second inning (Kohli 49, Lyon 3-41, Boland 3-46).
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Awards and culmination
Australians became the first team to win every International cricket trophy by winning WTC 2023 Finale Showdown.
Travis Head was nominated as the man of the WTC 2023 Finale Showdown.
Ajinkiya Rahane and Muhammad Siraj were the heroes of India. Ajinkiya and Siraj tried their level best to make India win but now India has an unwanted tag of two times WTC runner-ups.
What do you think went wrong for India? Is it captaincy or is it benching Ashwin?
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