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Team India's journey in the ODI World Cup 2023 culminated in a disappointing loss in the final against Australia at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, Sunday. Despite a dominating run throughout the tournament with 10 straight victories, India faltered in the final match, leaving their fans heartbroken and questioning the reasons behind their downfall. The Indian cricket team encountered several setbacks in the final match.
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Here's an in-depth examination of the ten key reasons behind India's defeat in this crucial encounter.
1. Tactical Mismatch on a Tricky Pitch:
The pitch in Ahmedabad played a pivotal role, being slower and drier than anticipated. India's strategy failed to adapt to the changing conditions, particularly in the second innings, as they struggled to exploit the pitch's slower nature.
2. Australia's Strategic Superiority:
Australia demonstrated tactical brilliance. Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, they executed their plans flawlessly, containing the Indian batsmen with strategic bowling changes and maintaining composure throughout the game.
3. India's Boundary Scarcity:
Despite a promising start, India experienced a significant drop in boundary scoring after the first ten overs. This decline in boundary hits severely impacted their run rate, making their chase of 241 runs increasingly challenging.
4. Lack of Substantial Partnerships:
India's failure to form significant batting partnerships was a glaring issue. Apart from a single noteworthy stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, there were no major collaborations, limiting their scoring potential.
5. Middle-Order Collapse:
India's usually reliable middle order stumbled at a crucial moment. Key players like Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav underperformed, and KL Rahul's slow-paced innings compounded the difficulties.
6. Pitch Conditions Favoring Australia:
The slow nature of the final's wicket, which attracted criticism, seemed to disadvantage India. Australia's decision to bowl first took advantage of the pitch's evolution, which became more conducive to batting as the match progressed.
7. Australia's Aggressive Batting Approach:
The Australian team's strategy of aggressive batting from the start paid dividends. Their top-order batsmen, especially Travis Head, adopted a robust approach, simplifying what initially appeared to be a challenging chase.
8. Impact of Dew:
Dew played a significant role, affecting the performance of Indian spinners. The dampness of the ball reduced the spin, allowing Australian batters, notably Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, to build a strong partnership.
9. Captaincy Missteps:
Rohit Sharma's captaincy in the final came under scrutiny, particularly for not employing slips for spinners during critical phases of the game. This decision potentially missed opportunities to disrupt key Australian partnerships.
10. Suboptimal Shot Selection and Fielding:
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli lost their wickets due to poor shot selection after getting set. Additionally, India's fielding performance and conceding extra runs starkly contrasted with Australia's exceptional fielding, which further pressured the Indian team.
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