Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar hailed Australia on Sunday after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023’s thrilling finale. Australia won the World Cup 2023 final to win their sixth ODI title, ending India’s hopes of winning another ICC tournament at home.
PM Kakar wrote on Twitter, “I congratulate Australia for winning the #CWC23. Phenomenal innings by Travis Head.” He praised Travis Head’s “phenomenal innings”. In response to India’s World Cup loss to Australia, the premier said, “Well played, Team India, better luck next time!” Before their home audience in the World Cup final, Australia defeated India by six wickets. Australia has won all three ICC trophies—T20 World Cup, World Test Championship, and ODI World Cup—in two years, indicating they are the best cricketing nation.
PM Kakar: ‘Better luck next time’ on India’s World Cup loss
Despite a top-order wobble, Travis Head’s 137 off 120 balls helped Australia win with seven overs to spare in a match that never reached remarkable heights. As the Rohit Sharma-led team, who had won 10 matches in a row to reach the final, lost their first match of the tournament in the crucial summit game, 93,000 primarily Indian fans watched in silence.
What a great day! Just glad to participate. “It’s better than watching the World Cup on the couch at home (on his injury),” “Man of the Match” Head told ESPN Cricinfo.
“I was anxious, but Marnus played brilliantly and handled the pressure. He said Mitch [Marsh] set the tone for the game, which was the excitement we wanted.
India’s top batter Kohli was crowned “Man of the Tournament” for amassing 765 runs in the mega-event. Earlier, Pat Cummins’s choice to field to avoid a wet ball in the night puzzled many, but Australian bowlers and excellent fielding stymied their opponents. India batted and scored 240 all out in 50 overs at a crowded Narendra Modi Stadium thanks to KL Rahul and Kohli’s half-centuries.
Loss of Shubman Gill
Despite the early loss of Shubman Gill, India skipper Rohit Sharma played tone-setting knocks in the tournament and final. Rohit’s exciting 47 included three sixes, but he fell before the powerplay ended.
The opener miscued his attempt on the offside as Head sprinted backwards from cover to catch the India skipper to dismiss him. Cummins caught Shreyas Iyer behind in the 11th over, reducing the hosts to 81-3.
Even though it took 16.1 overs without a boundary, Kohli and Rahul (66) rebuilt. The former scored his seventh 50-plus in 11 innings but left after slicing a Cummins delivery onto his stumps. Rahul struck only one four in his half-century, showing how tricky the surface was for shot-makers.
Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis set a World Cup final record with five catches. Australia fell to 47-3 seven overs into what looked like a straightforward chase when they batted. Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 58 not out, ended the match with a 192-run stand.
