The stage was set – bigger than ever. Viewership peaked – More than ever. Records were broken – quicker than ever. Yet, the trophy just slipped out of India’s hands as they lost the ODI World Cup final at the hands of Australia by six wickets.
The Men in Blue were impeccable during the league stage. They were not just winning but decimating opponents and hence, were the favourites to lift the cup and end the 12-year draught. In the end, it was so close, yet so far. Players like Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Virat Kohli were spotted shedding a few tears as they couldn’t have given more than they did throughout the tournament.
Coming into the World Cup, they were under pressure despite winning the Asia Cup. Playing at home is never easy, as there’s always pressure from the supporters, media and especially, there’s more noise than required. However, from the very first match, the team made the fans believe that they were not going to give anything less than 100%, and the Rohit Sharma-led side maintained the same spirit till the very last game.
They only got better from time to time. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Mohammed Siraj struggled in the initial phase but as time passed, these cricketers gained momentum and proved their worth in the middle. Going into the final, India had no concerns at all and were considered to be the favorites against Australia but the Pat Cummins-led side did what the skipper promised.
Ahead of the summit clash, Cummins in the press conference stated his desire to see more than 1 lakh people go quiet on the final and he eventually made sure that it happens. Gill went back to the pavilion pretty early but Rohit kept playing the way he knows the best. However, he got out on 47 runs, the road seemed difficult as Virat and KL Rahul struggled massively. Virat however kept rotating the strike to release the pressure but the stumper-batter failed to do so and hence, India were completely on the backfoot in the middle overs. They eventually got bundled out for 240 runs, which the Aussies chased down with absolute ease, all thanks to Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
Good, bad, and not so pretty
Whatever India touched seemed to have turned into gold in the ODI World Cup 2023. Shreyas Iyer’s form was a major concern and was thought to be on the verge of getting dropped but ultimately, he finished as the seventh-leading run-scorer of the tournament, with 530 runs in 11 matches. The same happened with Mohammed Siraj. He was having trouble finding rhythm, but towards the end of the league stage, he returned to his best and delivered well.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were phenomenal, to say the least. The skipper was in charge of setting the tone, and he did it in some style, but Virat once again proved to be the run-machine. Rohit finished as the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament with 597 runs in 11 matches, while Virat broke multiple records, including Sachin Tendukar’s most centuries in ODI cricket and finished on 765 runs after 11 matches, which is the most by a cricketer in the history of World Cup.
KL Rahul rose to the occasion from time to time. In the very first match, he scored 97 runs and helped India beat Australia in Chennai and later, he hit the fastest century by an Indian in ODI World Cup history, scoring a century in just 62 deliveries against Netherlands in Bengaluru. Ravindra Jadeja’s form with the bat was a bit concerning but that was barely required leaving the final, where it mattered but the southpaw couldn’t perform to his potential.
When it comes to the bowlers, Mohammed Shami absolutely stole the show. He didn’t feature in the playing XI in the initial matches, which was extremely surprising but after Hardik Pandya was ruled out with an ankle injury, Shami got back into the squad and picked up 24 wickets in seven matches and ended up as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. The pacer also picked up a seven-wicket haul against New Zealand in the semi-final, which is remarkable.
The moments that mattered
Winning all nine matches in the league stage is an incredible feat. India were the only undefeated team until the final and that deserves a lot of appreciation. Other than that, there are multiple moments that will forever be edged into the hearts of cricket lovers. Virat scoring his 50th ODI century at Wankhede Stadium and bowing down to Sachin Tendulkar was an iconic celebration that cannot be recreated.
The medal ceremony is another thing that the fans used to wait for after any India game. All the cricketers used to gather in the dressing room as fielding coach T Dilip used to announce the winner in a unique manner, which the stakeholders of the team absolutely fell in love with. Another thing that they fell in love with was Rohit Sharma’s selfless approach. He took the matter into his own hands and delivered time and again for the team, even when he was nearing a milestone. In a country where milestones are worshipped, Rohit showed that people also love the intent and approach.
Remember the Names
One can pick at least eight players for this category. Almost everyone who got a chance to feature in the playing XI did his best. If not batting, then bowling, if now bowling, then fielding – Indian cricketers were head and shoulders above everyone and they were ready to face any team and take on any challenge that the others offered. That’s what made this team ruthless.
However, three names that cannot be ignored at all are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mohammed Shami. These three players were extremely consistent and played a major role in helping India qualify for the finals against Australia.
Future fermentation
Going forward, the team will be built around the likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli might still be in the picture for the ODI World Cup 2027, but a lot will depend on their form and how well they are dealing with all three formats.
The good thing about Indian cricket is that the youngsters already have enough exposure by playing in the Indian Premier League. Plus, there are A tours and on occasions, when the senior team doesn’t travel, the juniors get game time. That’s a massive positive. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, and a few others have already played international cricket and hence, they know their jobs very well.
Coming of age
Shubman Gill in his very first ODI World Cup scored 354 runs in nine matches. There were a lot of expectations from him but he couldn’t deliver. Yet, scoring more than 350 runs is a commendable effort. He is deemed as the future star of Indian cricket and along with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashavi Jaiswal, he is expected to form the base of India’s batting. As said previously, the team is set. The more time they play with each other, the better it is for Indian cricket.