Australia emerged victorious in the Men’s Cricket World Cup, defeating India and thwarting the hopes of the cricket-crazed nation hosting the tournament for the first time. Captain Pat Cummins led the Australian team to a convincing six-wicket win, causing heartbreak for India, eager to reclaim the trophy after a 12-year gap.
In a ceremony attended by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, the World Cup trophy was presented to the Australian team. Travis Head, the Australian batsman, stole the spotlight with a remarkable performance, scoring 137 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket arena.
Read more: Babar Azam Resigns as Pakistan Cricket Captain Following World Cup Exit
Expressing his joy, Head remarked, “I’m thrilled to be a part of it” and emphasized the satisfaction of contributing to the victory. The match marked a turnaround for Australia, as India had previously defeated them in the group stages of the tournament.
This victory marked Australia’s sixth time clinching the International Cricket Council’s World Cup in the competition’s 13 editions. It put an end to India’s impressive unbeaten streak, with Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne acknowledging India as the standout team of the tournament.
Australia, after winning the toss, chose to bowl first. Despite a confident start by India’s captain Rohit Sharma, his dismissal at 47 became a pivotal moment. India was limited to 240 runs in their 50 overs, with Virat Kohli contributing 54 and KL Rahul top-scoring with 66.
Read more: Mickey Arthur expected to be removed as Pakistan Cricket Team director
Australia sealed the win with seven overs to spare, as the partnership of 192 runs between Head and Labuschagne silenced the home crowd. The loss is a significant setback for India, known for its unparalleled passion for cricket, especially considering the country’s status as the world’s most populous nation and the fifth-largest economy.
Reflecting on India’s impact on the cricketing world, Cummins acknowledged, “The passion in India [for cricket] is unrivaled around the world.” He highlighted India’s transformative role in the sport, particularly through the high-energy Indian Premier League, which features a shorter format and has led to multibillion-dollar battles for streaming and broadcasting rights.
The six-week tournament spanned across the subcontinent, from Tamil Nadu in the southern tip of the country to the HPCA stadium, surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the north. While India had previously co-hosted World Cup games with South Asian neighbors, including Bangladesh, this marked the first time the nation hosted the tournament solo.
On X, Modi shared that India had “played with great spirit and brought immense pride to the nation.”
The viewership on Disney’s Indian streaming service, at times, surpassed 58 million. Disney+ Hotstar, which lost the streaming rights to the IPL last year, offered free viewing of the World Cup matches.