In front of more than 100,000 spectators and despite the ‘good wishes and prayers’ of 1.4 billion people, Australia defeated the invincible Indian team in the World Cup in the final and were crowned World Cup winners for a record sixth time.
To watch this match, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sitting in the elaborately named ‘Narendra Modi Stadium’, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia were also present there.
Team India’s entire World Cup performance is seen on one side and the final game on the other side, so there is an endless series of questions in people’s hearts that how did the Indian team fail in the finals?
About a month ago today, when India defeated Pakistan in the opening matches of the World Cup in the same stadium, the commentators spoke of ‘slow pitch’. In several subsequent matches, there were complaints about the slow pitch and accusations were made that the host nation was preparing a slow pitch for its spinners.
This also came to light in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and India got a lot of benefit from it because the Indian team built such a mountain of runs that the New Zealand team was overwhelmed by the burden. However, the devastating bowling of Kasar Mohammad Shami, who took a record seven wickets in this match, completed it.
‘Slow pitch strategy backfired’
Australian captain Pat Cummins had reportedly complained about the slow pitch before the match, but he took a bold decision to win the toss and it proved to be a bold decision as his team fielded brilliantly and bowled on the correct length and line. .
After the match, Pat Cummins reiterated his point once again, saying that the pitch was a bit slower than we thought. And it wasn’t spinning as much as we thought but I think everyone prepared themselves for that and bowled on the right line and length.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, under whose captaincy Australia won the World Cup twice, said during the commentary of the final match that “India fell into their own trap”.
He said that today the conditions were very much like the subcontinent. If the truth be told, the wicket that India had prepared might have backfired on him.
While former England Test captain Michael Vaughan and Nasir Hussain also said that Australia took advantage of the condition better than India.
Michael Vaughan said the Australians came out smarter. ‘They did what Pat Cummins said. He silenced the crowd (spectators). He did this very brilliantly. I don’t know a single person who thought that the Australian team would easily achieve the target against India in 43 overs.
“India is still a great team but the pitch worked for Australia,” Nasir Hussain said.
He said that throughout the tournament, India’s bowlers did not get a chance to bat and it turned out to be a nightmare for them and that is why Kohli and Rahul avoided taking risks.
“The Indian team came under the pressure of lakhs of spectators besides themselves”
The Indian team came under the pressure of lakhs of spectators besides themselves. “You might think that the Indian batsmen hit only four or five fours in the last forty overs. KL Rahul looked particularly under pressure.
The pitch was the same for both teams but Australia bowled well on it. Indian batsmen disappointed.
Former Pakistan captain and fast bowler Wasim Akram said that ‘this kind of pitch has not been seen anywhere in the entire tournament.’
India’s assessment turned out to be completely wrong. Indian bowlers were under pressure due to low score. Australia scored 30 runs in the first two overs. The pitch was very dry which became more sluggish after 50 overs. Australia’s bowling was completely tactical. Wherever the ball went, there were Australian players. Batting requires talent, bowling requires talent but fielding requires fitness and Australians put a lot of emphasis on fitness.
Did the pitch cheat?
In response to the question, Wasim Akram said that the pitch was the same for both teams but Australia guessed more effectively.
Wasim Akram said that if there was a batting pitch, it would have been in favor of India. Pitch matters. Indian bowlers did not bowl freely due to low score. Warner started hitting in the first over. They started hitting boundaries on the first and second balls.
Those who understand cricket are talking about the slowness of the pitch on social media.
Rajdeep Sardesai, son of renowned journalist and cricketer Dilip Sardesai, wrote after the first drinks that ‘This was a slow and dry pitch not suitable for a World Cup final (ICC/BCCI will have to answer a few questions about this). ). Rohit should have gone for the big score after being set. The Australians have fielded brilliantly. Incredible catch by Travis Head, Cummins bowled the right length, Kohli is in control of his game and he should hang on to this wicket.
Former cricketer Akash Chopra said in a tweet that ‘Rohit’s persistence was important as this slow pitch is not conducive to big scores.’
Earlier, journalist Sagarika Ghosh had written at the time of the semi-final that ‘India has been the superior team in the World Cup 2023, so why does India need to tamper with the pitch? Surely the ICC oversees the World Cup and not the BCCI? Then why the allegations of ‘tampering’ with the cricket pitch?
User Ove Vivek tweeted: ‘I hold Rohit Sharma responsible for this low total. Not because he played poorly, but because he should have played his batting more strategically given the slower pitch. Sometimes it’s necessary to deviate from natural play to realize your full potential. Especially his dismissal in the final of the World Cup was very important.
Commenting on this situation, the Australian newspaper Herald Sun wrote that “the final of the World Cup was played on the same pitch on which India won by seven wickets against Pakistan in the league match played last month.”
Pat Cummins had also expressed concerns about the pitch the day before. Ultimately, the grass strip helped Australia chase the target better.
‘Lack of sportsmanship among spectators’
Indian fans have also been criticized for their lack of sportsmanship during the World Cup.
Journalist Moinuddin Hameed said that if this final was held in Mumbai or Kolkata instead of Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, maybe the fans there would have appreciated the good game of the Australian players, their fielding, batting and bowling, but Ahmedabad is not the same. The case turned out to be completely dry.’
The Australian newspaper The Age also pointed to it and wrote that after the sound of Virat Kohli’s wicket falling in the stadium filled with more than 90 thousand spectators, only 11 Australian players could be heard cheering.
According to the newspaper, Cummins took the wicket of Kohli to put his team on the path to victory and then a 192-run partnership between Travis Head and Marence Lebouchen did the rest.
“Whether it was Kohli’s departure from the pitch, Head’s century or the moment of victory, the silence at the Narendra Modi Stadium was a golden moment for Cummins and his teammates.”