Heartbreak and agony for one is ecstasy for another. Australia Cricket Team has stunned 1,32,000 India fans at the world’s largest cricket stadium to lift a 6th World Cup title after a 6-wicket win over India on Sunday. With an all-round show, Travis Head hunted down Rohit Sharma’s Invincibles to end their 10-match winning streak.
In response to India’s 240-run total Australia chased down the target in 43 overs with 6 wickets in hand. India also lost to Australia in WTC Final earlier this year.
Check players’ reactions:
David Warner: Our bowlers were fantastic and they set the tone from ball one. The fielding again supported that. Look, there was a bit of nervous energy in the dressing room, but fantastic partnership between Heady and Marnus.
Marnus Labuschagne: What we’ve achieved today is unbelievable. It’s the best achievement I’ve ever been part of. India have been the team of the tournament, but you knew if you play your best cricket, you have a chance. Our bowlers were sensational and Travis put on one hell of a display. The way everything has happened is unbelievable. I’m lost for words. Two months ago, I wasn’t even in the one-day team in South Africa.
Glenn Maxwell: It was a bit of a slog but it feels amazing. I sort of resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t have to bat but Heady got out but what a win! It’s a bit different when you’re watching Heady taking on Bumrah. Marnus soaked up the pressure and was outstanding. Heady with his ball-striking was second to none.
Josh Hazlewood: I think it’s bigger than 2015 World Cup victory. Great crowd, Indian fans are second to none. Tonight, we put it together when it counts.
Steve Smith: It’s incredible and yeah it was just a great performance. The bowlers set the tone and the fielding was great this evening. Took the game on and kept playing to our strengths. Wasn’t the ideal start for us, but we had the belief. Fortunately, we were able to do that and Australia typically plays well in those [big] moments. Big year for us, also winning the Test Championship.
Mitch Marsh: Pure elation right now. Been the hardest 8 weeks of cricket I was a part of. To be here with this group, it feels unbelievable.
Mitchell Starc: Pat Cummins was phenomenal and he has been phenomenal all tournament. It capped off an unbelievable eight weeks for this group. To win a World Cup in India…bloody successful and bloody enjoyable.
Travis Head: What an amazing day! Just thrilled to be a part of it. It’s a lot better than seeing the World Cup on the couch at home. I was a little bit nervous but Marnus played exceptionally well and soaked all the pressure. I felt the way Mitch Marsh took the game on setting the tone and that was the energy we wanted. It was a great decision to bowl first and the wicket got better as the game went on. It paid dividends and nice to play a role. Again, it is something I work hard on and nice to hold on and contribute in front of a full house.
Pat Cummins: I think we saved our best for last. We have been batting first pretty much for whole tournament and we thought it is a good night to chase down the target. Didn’t really spin as much as we thought either. The boys were fantastic, we got an aging side and still everyone is throwing themselves on the field. We thought 300 might have been tough but achievable on that wicket, really chuffed with 240.
Marnus with a cool head and Travis does what he does on the biggest stage, showed a lot of character. The selectors have backed him in and it is a big risk that we took and it paid off. I was pretty happy throughout the bowling innings. You look around and it is a special moment no matter whatever happened tonight. You gotta go and win the World Cup, you can’t wait for it to happen.
Rohit Sharma: The result has not gone our way. We were not good enough today. We tried everything but it wasn’t supposed to be. 20-30 runs more would have been good, KL and Kohli were stitching a good partnership and we were looking at 270-280 but we kept losing wickets. When you have 240 on the board, you want to take wickets but credit to Head and Labuschagne who stitched together a big partnership and put us completely out of the game.
We tried everything we could but I feel wicket got slightly better to bat under lights. Don’t want to give that as an excuse. We knew under lights it would be slightly better to bat, but don’t want to give that as an excuse. We didn’t put enough runs on the board. With the seamers upfront, we took those 3 wickets and another wicket there, we could open up the game. Credit to those two guys in the middle for stitching an outstanding partnership.
