Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Joel Wilson (West Indies, TV)
Referee
Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Weather
No chance of rain
Pitch Report
Balanced pitch with help for spinners. At this ground (in 2023 World Cup): Avg. 1st inning score:251 ; Team batting 2nd have won 3 out of 4 matches; Top Players: R Sharma (Mat: 6, Runs: 307, Avg: 51, SR: 103.02), M Siraj: (Mat: 4, Wkts: 7, BB: 3/29, Eco: 4.40)
Toss
Australia elected to bowl
Pitch Report
Pace BowlingAverage
Batting ConditionAverage
Spin BowlingAverage
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
247Avg Runs
8Avg Wkts
Avg
SR
2nd Innings
222Avg Runs
6Avg Wkts
Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Ahmedabad,India
Updated: 07 Jan 10:09
24°CHaze
haze
0%
Clouds
0%
Rain %
60%
Humidity
7.42 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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Balanced pitch with help for spinners. At this ground (in 2023 World Cup): Avg. 1st inning score:251 ; Team batting 2nd have won 3 out of 4 matches; Top Players: R Sharma (Mat: 6, Runs: 307, Avg: 51, SR: 103.02), M Siraj: (Mat: 4, Wkts: 7, BB: 3/29, Eco: 4.40)
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Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Joel Wilson (West Indies, TV)
Referee
Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Weather
No chance of rain
Pitch Report
Balanced pitch with help for spinners. At this ground (in 2023 World Cup): Avg. 1st inning score:251 ; Team batting 2nd have won 3 out of 4 matches; Top Players: R Sharma (Mat: 6, Runs: 307, Avg: 51, SR: 103.02), M Siraj: (Mat: 4, Wkts: 7, BB: 3/29, Eco: 4.40)
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That's it! 384 hours of live commentary, thousands of articles, and countless memories later, we conclude our coverage of the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. What a journey it has been for our ever-so-awe-inspiring cricket content team - days... months of relentless efforts have culminated into something really special! The numbers we conjured over the course of the tournament has been staggering to say the least. Special thanks to you folks - as is the case all the time, the fans are the pillar behind the success of every entity, and this was no different - thank you so, so much for all your support! With the grandest cricketing event coming to an end - both these sides will now turn their focus towards the shortest International format. There's another World Cup - a 20-over one - to prepare for the next year! The T20I leg of Australia's tour of India will begin on Thursday at Visakhapatnam. Tune in right here on Sportskeeda for our coverage of the same, and of course, a whole lot more! On behalf of a wonderful team of Pratyush Rohra, Balashankar Prasanna, Arya Sekhar Chakraborty, Shashwat Kumar and Sooryanarayanan Sesha, this is Rajarshi Das, signing off. Goodbye - see you soon!
Wow. Quite a month and half eh? Only fair we look back at it all!
October 5. That's when it began at this very venue in Ahmedabad. We picked up from where we left off in 2019 with England and New Zealand lifting us off and while Jonny Bairstow's second ball six suggested that England meant business, it was all but that as we found out. A hammering at the hands of the Kiwis summed up a miserable campaign for the defending champions before Australia also struggled to take off even as things took a turn for the better. India were up and running and nothing seemed to stop them in the round-robin phase while South Africa butchered teams for fun batting first and lit up the competition, even as New Zealand were...well, typically New Zealand - professional and clinical when it mattered!
Just when questions over whether ODIs were exciting any more continued to do the rounds, Afghanistan and the Netherlands proved otherwise. They were the teams that defined this tournament and made it what it was, with the Afghan victories over England and Pakistan, plus the Dutch getting the better of South Africa, bound to be spoken about for years and years to come. Afghanistan even threatened to barge into the semifinals but then, Glenn Maxwell happened - arguably the greatest ODI innings of all time with just about zero footwork beyond a point, it was a sight to behold.
And there were an array of records smashed - the one for the fastest hundred in World Cup history was re-written twice while Mohammed Shami snared his 24 wickets at under 10 apiece. Staggering to say the least! Oh, and there was that man Virat Kohli, who reached a summit no human on the planet ever had before as he notched up his 50th ODI hundred in the semifinal to boot. At the end of it all though, the might of the Aussies proved too hot for India to handle in the final as their ten-match winning streak was snapped in heartbreaking fashion. Some things don't change and the Australians rocking up on the big night is one of them. Truly an unparalleled legacy alright!
Patrick Cummins. Yes, his name is Patrick. From a young teenage prodigy ravaged by injury and perhaps having his career on the line, to becoming the world's top-ranked Test bowler, an Ashes-winning skipper, a World Test Championship winning skipper and now with an ODI World Cup to his kitty. This has been some journey hasn't it?
It's happening. The Australia players assemble as Patrick Cummins - the second Australian man to captain his side to a World Cup title in India since the great Allan Border, is JOINED BY HIS CHAMPION SIDE having collected the Cup from the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles! UP GOES THE TROPHY AS THE CONFETTI AND FIREWORKS SET OFF!!! What a team this is - A World Test Championship and an ODI World Cup in the same year - you can't help but wonder whether the 'under-dog' tag ticked something off within their ranks on both occasions!
Pat Cummins (Australia captain): Yeah that's it (rose to the occasion). I think we saved our best for the last. Couple of big match players stood up and we're pretty chuffed. We were tossing it up - we were batting first pretty much the whole tournament. Today we thought it was a good night to chase it down and it might get easier. It was a bit slow I thought. It didn't particularly spin probably as much as we thought. I thought everyone adjusted well and bowled tight lines. On a slow wicket like that with pretty variable bounce, we thought a couple of catchers on the leg-side...you've got to score runs in ODI cricket so we put a couple of catchers in those positions. Desperate for sure (on the field). I think it all started last week against South Africa. We've got an aging side but it was brilliant. Really chuffed with 240. I thought 300 was motoring towards par but anything under that we would have been happy. I was one of those blokes with the heart fluttering up and was pacing. Marnus was great there and Trav does what he does, takes the bowlers on. To do that on the big stage speaks of his character. The unheralded few (have to be credited) - the selectors in backing him (Head) and the medical staff who worked hard with him. It was a big risk we took and it paid off. I was pretty happy they were silent for most of the bowling innings. But fantastic, the passion in India is second to none. You look around, it's a pretty special moment. Whatever the result it was a pretty special day. (Message after the first two losses) If you're going to win a World Cup you can't just wait for it to happen. You've got to take the game on. There was a shift after those first two games. The openers took the game on. It told on everyone and it worked. Crazy - this year will be the year we remember for a long, long time. It's been awesome. We've had a lot of success and this pips it all. Top of the pile.
And now, the champions. Six-time champions. Gosh that's something! Australia looked down and out after defeats to India and South Africa and guess what, they've completed their redemption with wins over those very two teams in the knockouts. Life truly has come a full circle hasn't it? Justin Langer famously said 'never underestimate the Indians' but tell you what, it's our turn to say 'never write an Australian team out on the big stage'. They've been fabulous and have comfortably been the better team on the big night. And this is a moment to savor for a lifetime with some of these players also having won the tournament back in 2015. Up they come to the dais to receive their medals with beaming smiles on their faces!
Rohit Sharma, India captain: Honestly, the result hasn't gone our way. We weren't good enough today. But I'm proud of how we played from game one. Wasn't our day, we tried everything we could, but just wasn't to be. 20-30 more would have been good, we spoke at around 25-30 overs when KL and Virat were batting. They were stitching a good partnership there, and we needed to bat long. We were looking at 270-280, but then we kept losing wickets. That's exactly what Australia did. When you have 240 on the board, you want to take wickets as early as possible. We did that. Credit to Travis Head and Marnus, they stitched a partnership and put us out of the game completely. We tried everything we could, but I thought the wicket got slightly better under lights. We knew the wicket'd be slightly better under lights, but don't want to give that as an excuse. We didn't bat well enough to put those runs on the board. Another wicket could have opened up the game but, again, credit to those two guys who stitched a partnership.
The Indian players now come up to receive their runner-up medals. So near, yet so far...the wait continues for this team and alas, it may be the last time a good chunk of these players play an ODI World Cup. Like we said before though, it should take nothing away from how they've played over the last few weeks - beginning with the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. It's been a real thrill watching this team but the reactions tell you that they're as devastated as any of their supporters, if not more.
Virat Kohli has been adjudged the Player Of The Tournament! While the crowd breaks into a loud cheer, Kohli, completely devoid of any facial expressions, walks up to the dais to collect his award.
First up, the match officials collect their mementos. Boos all around the ground as Richard Kettleborough makes his way towards the dais.
Time for the post-tournament presentation!
Sachin Tendulkar is seen interacting with members of the Indian team. He's sharing a word with each of them and giving them a hug of appreciation. Make no mistake - this Indian team is comfortably one of the finest to have not lifted the World Cup. They have been nothing short of terrific this campaign!
Very few people would have anticipated such a meek display from a side that came into the final on the back of 10 successive wins. There was some fight early on in both innings, but the Indian team, as has been the case so, so often over the past decade, came second just when the stakes were the highest. Click on the link below to have a look at how the Indian players fared as per our folks!
Travis Head is the Player Of The Match! Here's what he has to say: Not many good years, what an amazing day. Just thrilled to be a part of it. It's a lot better than seeing the chaps at home. Was lucky to be able to get back here. The way I played in the first 20 balls I was a little bit nervous but Marnus and I were able to soak up the pressure. Just an amazing partnership. Felt the way Mitch Marsh came out and took the game on, it set the tone. And that was the attitude we wanted. We knew the wicket may be tough and it was a great decision to bowl first upon winning the toss. I think it got better as the game went on. All the more reason why we did what we did at the toss. Going to be a couple of amazing days now. It's something I've worked hard on - couldn't imagine the hundred or that one (catch). Nice to hold onto something as important as that. Nice to do it in front of a full house. (On joining Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist as Aussies with men's ODI World Cup tons) Definitely third on that list (grins). But it's a nice one to join. Nice to contribute and looking forward to the reunion with the boys.
Mitchell Starc: He (Cummins) was phenomenal. He has been phenomenal all tournament in his decision. To step up with the ball in the final was great. He had his plans in his place and he knew exactly what he was doing. It just rounded off a special eight weeks for the group. To win a World Cup in India is a bloody successful and bloody enjoyable.
Mitchell Marsh: Pure elation. It's been the hardest eight weeks I have been every been. It's great to be with this group. This is unbelievable. Between Pat, Ron and all the coaching staff, this has been an incredible winter. To win a World Cup in India, it feels great.
David Warner: Our bowlers were fantastic. They sort of flew from last game, they set the tone from ball one. The fielding again set the tone. To bowl them out for 240 in a final is absolutely exceptional. Bit of nervous energy up in the change room. Fantastic partnership between Marnus and Heady. What an incredible comeback from Heady - injured in South Africa, came back and scored a hundred and did it again today.
Steven Smith: It's incredible, the atmosphere was amazing today. It was just a great performance. The bowlers set the tone and the fielding was great. And Travis Head was just incredible. Took the game on even when we were 3 for 60 odd. I thought Marnus played an outstanding knock. Wasn't the ideal start for us but we had the belief that we had a good group of players and a great staff to turn it around. Fortunately we were able to. Australia typically plays well in those moments. Been a pretty big year for us obviously, winning the Test Championship and then this.
Glenn Maxwell: It was a bit of a slog (speaking on the winning hit) but it feels great. I had to test my own medicine.I had almost resigned to the fact that I was not getting a bat. Then Headi got out but it's an amazing win. Marnus soaking up the pressure, Heady and his ball striking was second to none.
Josh Hazlewood: This is bigger. The challenges we have been through the last two months is really special. Winning on a day like this was special. Such a great crowd, the Indian crowd is second to none. A couple of them started to leave but amazing crowd. It's just the belief in the squad. To sort of being knocking on the wood and being on the run and putting up a perfect performance.
Let's get some early reactions in from the winning team!
Marnus Labuschagne: What we've achieved today is unbelievable. The best achievement I've ever been a part of. To come against India who have won 10 from 10, they've been the team of the tournament. But we knew if we play to our potential...our bowlers were sensational. And Travis Head was outstanding. I'm a man of faith. The way everything's happened it's been unbelievable. It's amazing, I'm lost for words. Even last night, the team meeting were talking about it at 10:10 (on his selection). I'm glad they've stuck with me. To start in South Africa and play 19 games start, I can't give enough thanks to the team.
There are times when you get a good look at some cricketers, and at first glance, they don't seem as much a prodigy compared to their peers. But then, when the chips are down, they produce an innings or a spell for the ages, and all of a sudden, they're right in the spotlight, ahead of names much, much bigger in terms of ability or skills.
Travis Michael Head is one such individual. The Adelaide-born left-hander, having risen to prominence in a Big Bash League game against the Sydney Sixers on the last day of 2015, has retained his counter-attacking game over the course of time, made a name for himself across formats for Australia, and has just guided his country to a World Cup with an innings synonymous to his style of play.
Marnus Labuschagne played his role to perfection as well - weathering the situation after Australia lost three in the powerplay. He was just the cushion Head needed to rely upon (no pun intended) while playing his shots. Labuschagne's strike rate barely headed towards the 80s throughout his innings, but the compactness in his technique, one shaped with intense training and precision over all these years - mainly to aid his game in the longest format - came along as a boon for the Aussies on the biggest of occasions.
The entirety of the Narendra Modi stadium, and the rest of India - were upbeat as Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah got in on the act early in the powerplay - claiming Warner, Marsh and Steven Smith in the space of 7 overs. However, the disease of being erratic never really left them post the semi-final, and there were far too many conceded in sundries in the powerplay.
While KL Rahul claimed two dismissals, this was his hardest day behind the stumps over the course of the World Cup. The late movement had him diving all around, and while he got a hand onto some of them, the others traveled behind, some of them reaching the ropes.
And then, of course, there was Travis Head, going right after an Indian bowling attack revered by so many folks over the course of the World Cup. There were chances offered, but Head kept at his counter-attacking style of play. Soon enough, Australia, out of the rut, had enough stability to bank on. Marnus Labuschagne played the perfect second-fiddle role, compact in defence, milking the ones and twos against every single Indian bowler, and then, when the boundary ball came along, he was quick to get on top of it.
The Indian spinners were introduced right after the powerplay in the hope of extracting something off the deck, but as it turned out, there seemed to be nothing on offer for them. Very few deliveries turned, and while the odd one either skidded through or stopped on the deck from Jadeja and Kuldeep, Head and Labuschagne were watchful enough to see them off.
As the runs kept leaking, Rohit was reluctant to go back to his pacers. By the time he did, Head and Labuschagne were well accustomed to the conditions, and Shami, Bumrah and Siraj later on were dealt with utmost comfort.
Head had a real scare on 99 - he risked a near-impossible single and gave up halfway down, but Ravindra Jadeja, of all fielders, missed the target from meters away, and Head joined an elite list of players to score a hundred in a Men's ODI World Cup final. There was no stopping him after that - Head cleared his front leg or strode towards the pitch of the ball on several occasions, and mauled the Indian bowlers out of sight.
By the time he was dismissed, Australia were on the brink, and it was left to the Big Show - Glenn Maxwell - one of Australia's major figures behind their turnaround - to complete the honours and take Australia to more World Cup glory.
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
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