India’s path to the World Cup final was nothing short of spectacular, marked by a commanding 10-match winning streak. Defeating formidable teams, including the nemesis New Zealand, showcased the Men in Blue’s prowess and determination. The team’s style of cricket over 45 days was unprecedented, setting a benchmark despite the ultimate heartbreak.
However, the final against Australia became the ‘final frontier’ that India couldn’t conquer. Despite an explosive start by skipper Rohit Sharma, India misread the conditions in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The batting lineup, post-Sharma’s fall, struggled to maintain momentum. Despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, India could only set a target of 240, a target Travis Head chased down with a century for the ages, securing Australia’s record-extending sixth World Cup title.
Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain and cricket pundit, emphasizes the need for reflection. He believes India must learn from the mistakes made in the final to progress. Gavaskar points out that while showing solidarity is crucial, acknowledging and rectifying errors is equally vital for sustained improvement. Tough questions need to be asked, and significant steps taken to ensure India’s future success in international cricket.
Gavaskar raises a significant concern regarding India’s T20 World Cup performance. Despite being a T20 powerhouse with the Indian Premier League (IPL) boosting its players’ exposure, India has not won a T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition 16 years ago. Gavaskar stresses the urgency of addressing the evident errors and rectifying them promptly.
“India will have to accept some of the errors they made in the final if they want to go on and win a trophy. Trying to show solidarity is one thing, but if mistakes are not accepted, then progress will be slower. Over the next few weeks, big decisions will have to be made by individuals and the selection committee. India not winning the T20 World Cup after 2007 is a huge disappointment considering the exposure its players and youngsters get playing in the IPL,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Mid-Day.
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Despite the disappointment, Gavaskar acknowledges India’s consistency over the last decade. The team’s performances in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, along with the recent World Test Championship and Champions Trophy, reflect a commendable record. Gavaskar, as a consolation, appreciates the team’s efforts and expresses confidence that they will rebound stronger in the future.
“India not winning the World Cup was disappointing, no doubt, but that is over now, and the game will move on. Over the last four World Cups, the Indian team entered the final twice with one win and got into the semi-finals on the other two occasions. That is a terrific performance when you compare it with the other teams, and only Australia have been better with two trophy wins,” pointed out Gavaskar.
