[NPV]

After winning 10 in a row, India failed with the most important toss, didn’t put enough runs on the board but still gave a great fight and won millions of hearts with the performance, better luck next time!

If this Indian team can’t win, I can’t imagine another team winning and it also reminds us that:
1. Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties
2. Even the best of teams can have a bad day at a crucial moment and lose the cup
3. It’s a sport, winning is not everything. One team wins and the other loses
4. The sincere and honest efforts matter, let’s not be judgemental based on the result and do not pin blame on any individuals, it’s a team sport after all
5. History and the patterns that emerge from the past aren’t easily broken
6. Law of averages is still valid
7. Luck plays a very important role in winning
8. Peaking at the right moment does matter
9. No matter how many times pitches are batter friendly, there can be one or more that give a little bit back for the bowlers and that’s where even the best of batters will struggle
Etc, etc

You get the drift

[Gaur]

For me Kohli's unfortunate nick on the stumps was the turning point of the game, he was looking well set and focused had he stayed a bit more he could have got another century and we probably would haven reached 300.

Sending Jadeja to bat over SKY says a lot about how confident the team management was about SKY's abilities, what baffles more is the absolute lack of remorse the chewing gum chewing gentleman shows, absolute lack of regret, remorse bordering on shamelessness.
The Aussie bowlers were literally toying with him in a humiliating manner.

Iyer's arrogance doesn't seem to end. Gill barely out the the egg simply didn't have the temperament for the big game, more focused on posing for GQ.

Oh b.t.w did we have a spinner in the team ? after Kumble/Bhajji i dont think we have been able to get a world dominating spinner yet.

Feel sorry for Rohit and Kohli.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by ranjitnair77

I understand raw emotions after a loss but surely some thought needs to be applied?

This is not raw emotion. How many opportunities has he had in 5 years? It is not that we don't have a replacement for him, but other talents have not had so many opportunities. One should know how to value his place in the team, same applies for Gill and SKY. The bowling attack of most teams was weak in this World Cup, scoring against weak bowling attacks is no great achievement.

[VWAllstar]

Unfortunately Dravid will take all the heat and will be replaced very soon. I think we are good with an international coach rather than having our ex fab 4s and 10s taking over the coaching role.

Moreover, I agree to the comments made on SKY. Now we know why and how ABD was a special talent and SKY cannot be compared with him?

Cricket is a funny game, you can win from a weak position and lose from a strong position. Eventually no one is going to remember the ifs and buts, the inside edge bowled of Kohli or the mishit by Rohit. Only the fact that Australia won the CWC 2023 shall be remembered and celebrated.

Disappointed with the crowd though. There was lack of support to the Indian Team when Head and Marcus were batting. Something that you won't see in Wankhade, Eden or Chinnaswamy stadiums. It could have made a difference in the moral of our bowlers and make the batter lose focus.

[Rahkehs]

BCCI's attempt to "supplement" the Indian Team with a worn-out pitch backfired badly. If the final was on a sporting wicket, Indian team would have got equal chance. Clearly, the pitch behaved differently in 1st and 2nd Innings (especially after the 1st Drinks break). Also, how much anyone denies, the pressure on Indian players is just too much, could be seen on the faces of our players. Kohli and Rahul partnership was a proof of the pressure, where they just couldn't play shots out of fear of getting out and the momentum shifted towards Aussies!

[anand_roy]

India lost the match after Rohit departed. After his departure, the rest of the batters did not take the attack to the Aussies. It seemed that some fear had gripped them. Even with 3 down, they needed to take the fight to the opponents. It was totally evident that the Indian batters had a lot of nerves.

Yes, they played well for the rest of the tournament - but that does not matter. The end result matters. And it is a fact that they have not won any ICC tournaments for a long long time.

They have been appreciated, applauded and loved for the good show in the remainder of the matches. So, it is only natural that the wrath of the fan's will also land on them for the pathetic show in the final. At the end of the day, it was their responsibility. Pitch, dew and environment does not matter.

One of the biggest heartbreaks! Probably bigger than 2003!

[varunswnt]

The unfortunate nightmare most feared came to fruition. If there was a possibility of reversing time, I bet most would have gone back to correct a few things, but this is what it is now, and everyone has to live with it.

Since 2003, Aussies have won four world cups, one each by India and England. Just goes on to show their dominance, especially in knockout games. What differentiates Aussies from others is their support staff and their better study of conditions, drawing plans for opposition, and the playing 11 executing them to perfection.

India always planned to bat first, whereas the Aussies were always prepared to bowl first. Read below what Rohit said after the toss.

India Vs Australia Final: What Captains Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins said at Toss

Rohit said he would have batted first if he had won the toss, which means Cummins' decision went in his favor. "I would have batted first. Looks a good pitch, big game, put runs on the board. It's going to be amazing, every time we play here, the crowd comes out in large numbers. The biggest occasion in the cricketing event. We have to stay nice and calm. It's a dream come true to be captaining the team in the final. I know what lies in front of us. We need to play well and get the result

Cummins said dew could be a factor later on, which prompted his decision to bowl. "Looks like a dry wicket. Dew is a factor. It gets better to bat on."

The Australia skipper added, "It's been a tough start to the tournament, but we haven't really put a foot wrong ever since. It's all set up perfectly. We've played these guys a lot."

What do you guys think India can do in its preparation for the next ICC trophy? What should we improve upon, and what should we take forward? What options do we have on the bench?

[NomadSK]

Trust your hunches, There's a very thin line between a great captain and the worst captain, based on the decision he takes on the field at that moment. For sure skill plays a part, but there is a high degree of luck and mental stubbornness involved in cricket at all times, especially when one plays at the highest level and after 10 Lucky days, there came a day when we simply got unlucky. And unfortunately, y'day that day was the FINALS.

No doubt, cricketers tend to lean on superstition as a crutch as they cannot accept the terrible truth that their whole day is governed/ruined by an unpredictable movement of the ball (Swing/Spin/Seam), a controversial umpiring decision or weather gods or the random toss of a coin or wrong team selection, too many invariables to deal with.

Comparing man to man for the cricketing abilities of both the finalist teams on paper, we were almost at par or exceeded the Aussies, but the difference was the mental toughness and the grit/dedication to win the tournaments, while we were more emphatic on winning the games. When Cummins said about his motivation, regarding "silencing the crowd", I knew that was a fighter's strong worded statement. That should have ring bells in the Indian dressing room, they will come hard at you and they did, unfortunately we just surrendered with "one size fits all/take the bull by the horn" strategy for playing all the previous matches. Although it worked in the earlier games, but this final game wasn't meant to be. We can have 1.4billion delibrations/questions with no answers, that's Cricket.

There’s an old adage, "Batsmen win you games and Bowlers win you tournaments". That’s the sole reason why Pakistan have been successful in winning big matches, whenever they have. And now in finals the Aussie Bowlers stopped the Indian batting juggernaut to a meeky total.

Personally, what I feel, the difference between the 2011 winning WC team and this 2023 WC team was mental calmness/shrewdness of MSD. The way he took the decisions on the field based on the requirement at the moment and the way he marshalled his troops, like an Army General on a war mission.

Well Played both the finalists and Congrats to Aussie for winning it.

[deathwalkr]

For me, what was sad to see was the sheer lack of intent to score runs. Going almost 29 overs with just 1 boundary in a ODI and that too a WC Final was mind boggling and heart wrenching.

With an amazing start given by Rohith, team just imploded. But that catch by Head! Catches do win matches!

Somebody should have gone and told SKY that this was not a ICC match but think of it as IPL T20 and play.

What a win by the Aussies. With 6 WC cups, they sure are amazing.

[Bhodrolok]

The team has been fabulous throughout the tournament and yesterday was bad luck thanks to the pathetic pitch that was served & Aussies being absolutely stellar in every part of the game. BCCI in its quest to gain home advantage screwed up their own team.

I wish this teaches them a lesson in fairness and how trying to tilt the balance in their favor can come back to bite their own, however with the current dispensation with Jay Shah, I don't have many hopes of a soul searching!

Also Ahmedabad is just not the city or the crowd for the final of a world cup, it's a pity they did not choose any of the iconic venues for their political agenda.

[Revvatron]

Although we were clear favorites and thought we would just walk away with finals, the way Aussies were throwing themselves on the field was enough to give the vibe that this might not be our day.Once Head took that catch alarm bells started to ring. I think he was the main difference. Our batters went into shell too. We should have atleast attempted something against Maxwell/Head/Zampa. Afterall these are our home conditions and apart from few deliveries they were not turning the ball much.

[Gaur]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Disappointed with the crowd though. There was lack of support to the Indian Team when Head and Marcus were batting. Something that you won't see in Wankhade, Eden or Chinnaswamy stadiums. It could have made a difference in the moral of our bowlers and make the batter lose focus.

Ohh man this is so true, i guess majority of the people who made it to the finals were more so for snob value and less for real cricket, when real fans were struggling for tickets its black marketers who made the most of it people with fat pockets gained easy access compared to real fans.

As you said, had this been in Wankhade,chinnaswamy,chepauk, eden gardens or even Delhi the atmosphere would have been more supportive.

[download2live]

This is a repeat of 2003. India was simply outclassed. They were exposed by some sharp bowling and superb fielding.

This mindless money driven T20 spectacle was going to come at a cost of core cricketing skills. Put Indian batting lineup on a proper lively pitch and results will be even worse. It is the financial might of BCCI that they are able to force the way a pitch should be made. Flat lifeless tracks on which batsmen hit six and fours and crowds go wild.

The "Maggi"isation of this glorious game is complete.

Originally Posted by varunswnt

What do you guys think India can do in its preparation for the next ICC trophy? What should we improve upon, and what should we take forward? What options do we have on the bench?

Play a T20 match. Lots of them actually. And looks like they are on track. Friday 24th Nov, 2023 T20 match between India and Australia starts.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by Gaur

Oh b.t.w did we have a spinner in the team ? after Kumble/Bhajji i dont think we have been able to get a world dominating spinner yet.

We do. Just that, we have refused to play him in every knockout game or decider of any consequence. R Ashwin. If there was ever a match with the stage and the conditions to play him, it was yesterday.

[varunswnt]

Originally Posted by download2live

Friday 24th Nov, 2023 T20 match between India and Australia starts.

Its like rubbing salt on wound. Just 4 days post the biggest match, face the nemesis again.