Pat Cummins’ audacious decision to bowl first in the World Cup final reaped rich rewards as Australia restricted India to a modest total of 240. The Aussies then comfortably chased down the target, thanks to a scintillating century from opener Travis Head, securing a six-wicket victory.
Pat Cummins’ Captaincy: A Game Changer
Indian cricket legend Suresh Raina, a member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, was particularly impressed by Cummins’ captaincy. In his column for the ICC, Raina highlighted how Cummins’ strategic bowling changes and tactical decisions swung the game in Australia’s favour.
He lauded Cummins’ smart move of bringing Glenn Maxwell into the attack, which resulted in the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma, thanks to a spectacular catch by Travis Head. Raina also commended the performances of Adam Zampa and Cummins himself, who dismissed Virat Kohli.
Australia’s Fielding: The Unsung Hero
Raina also pointed out the significant role Australia’s fielding played in their victory. He estimated that the team saved around 30 to 40 runs through their exceptional fielding efforts. The team’s commitment to saving singles and boundaries from the very first ball, coupled with some remarkable catches and fielding in the deep by David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, were standout moments for Raina.
Cummins’ Captaincy: A Masterclass in Strategy and Execution
Raina further praised Cummins’ captaincy, stating that his tactics and planning made all the difference in the match. He noted that Cummins showed great temperament in rotating his bowlers to put pressure on each Indian batter, despite their good form. His execution was flawless, according to Raina.
Australia’s Sixth World Cup Victory
The triumph marked Australia’s sixth World Cup win in the history of the 50-over format. India, on the other hand, has two World Cup victories to their name, achieved in 1983 in England and 2011 on home soil.
India’s Future Prospects
Despite the disappointment of not adding another ICC title to their trophy cabinet, Raina expressed optimism about the future of the Indian team. He believes that the team has the potential to bounce back in the next edition of the tournament, to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2027.
Raina concluded by stating that the Indian team has learned valuable lessons from this experience. He emphasized the importance of managing pressure situations, especially when playing at home, and expressed confidence that the team will apply these lessons in future tournaments.