Aus lift World Cup as India falter in final

Ahmedabad: India's thundering juggernaut came to a screeching halt in an anti-climactic finish as Australia denied a golden generation of Indian cricketers the silverware it so desperately craved by lifting an unprecedented sixth World Cup trophy, here Wednesday.

The Australians once again showed what meticulous planning and ruthless execution is all about, chasing 241 in just 43 overs with Travis Head (137 off 120 balls) once again proving to be India's nemesis.

Prior to the showdown, Australia skipper Pat Cummins had said that there is "nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent" and he kept his word.

There was pin-drop silence as Australia marched towards victory. Skipper Rohit Sharma, a once-in-a-generation talent, Ravindra Jadeja, an allrounder par excellence and an artist called Mohammed Shami possibly lost their last but arguably best shot at winning a 50-over World Cup.

Rahul Dravid, who has invested two years in building a crack ODI unit might have to remain content without that silverware in his cabinet.

Motera was drowned in 'Ocean of Blue' in anticipation of World Cup trophy but the 10 emphatic wins on the trot ended in nothingness as India saved their worst for the last scoring a below-par 240 in 50 overs.

To their dismay, Australian team under its inspirational skipper Pat Cummins, weathered the early jitters before Head, buoyed by a superlative fielding effort in the afternoon, anchored his team with a chiselled knock that had 15 fours and four sixes.

Kohli player of tournament

Virat Kohli has been has been named the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Player of the Tournament.

His 765 runs is the most ever scored by an individual batter at a men’s Cricket World Cup, surpassing the previous record set by Sachin Tendulkar, who hit 673 in the 2003 tournament.

We were not good enough on the day: Rohit Sharma

I ndian skipper Rohit Sharma on Sunday admitted that his side was not good enough, especially as a batting unit, in the World Cup final against Australia here.

The Aussies bowled out India for a below-par 240 on a tricky pitch and then chased it down in 43 overs for a sixwicket win.

We saved our best for the last, says Aus captain Pat Cummins

Restricting a powerful Indian batting line-up to 240 was a huge factor in Australia winning their sixth World Cup, captain Pat Cummins said.

"We saved our best for the last. I am chuffed with keeping them to 240 - anything under 300 really. I was one of those blokes with the hearts fluttering but (Travis) Head took the game on," said Cummins. (PTI)