The final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Australia is set to kick off at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India and Pat Cummins' brigade are intensely preparing for the upcoming final. Having won their last 10 matches in World Cup 2023, India have made a formidable entry into the final. With the championship title at stake, they are on high alert to avoid any blunder, especially considering past critical mistakes in major matches over the last five World Cups. Let’s revisit the five major blunders from previous World Cups which Team India should avoid in the upcoming grand finale.
Chaos in the 1996 World Cup Semifinal
During the 1996 World Cup semifinal in Kolkata, India, captained by Mohammad Azharuddin, faced Sri Lanka. Azharuddin's decision to field first proved costly as Sri Lanka set a challenging target of 251 runs. India's batting lineup struggled, and their situation deteriorated when Javagal Srinath, batting at number 6, was run out after scoring just 6 runs. Following his dismissal, India's batting crumbled further, with only Nayan Mongia scoring a single run and Ajay Jadeja and Aashish Kapoor failing to score.
The atmosphere turned tumultuous as Vinod Kambli stood at 10 runs and Anil Kumble joined him, with the Kolkata crowd expressing their frustration through stadium fires and throwing plastic bottles onto the field. At this point, India was struggling at 120 runs for 8 wickets in 34.1 overs. The match couldn't continue due to the unruly scene, resulting in Sri Lanka's declaration as the winner. This episode, sparked by a run out, marked a disappointing end to India's campaign on their own soil.
The 2003 World Cup Final's Turning Point
In the 2003 ICC World Cup, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, 14 teams competed. India, led by Sourav Ganguly, experienced only one defeat in the group stage, which was against Australia. Despite this, they successfully progressed to the Super Sixes and the semifinals. After handily defeating Kenya in the semifinal, India earned their place in the final to face Australia once more. However, during the crucial final match of the 2003 World Cup, a major mistake by Indian captain Sourav Ganguly coupled with a critical run out crushed India's remaining aspirations.
Sehwag's Run Out in the Match Against Australia
In Johannesburg, facing Australia's formidable batting line-up, Sourav Ganguly chose to field first after winning the toss, a decision that would later backfire. The Australian batsmen, led by Adam Gilchrist's quick 57 off 48 balls and Ricky Ponting's unbeaten 140 off 121 balls, put up a massive total of 359 runs for 2 wickets. India, in response, relied on opener Virender Sehwag, who scored an impressive 82 runs off 81 balls. However, his innings was cut short in the 24th over when he was run out by Darren Lehmann's direct throw from mid-off. This pivotal moment shifted the game's momentum, leading to India's substantial defeat by 125 runs. Once more, a run out significantly impacted India's performance.
2015 World Cup Semifinal: Dhoni and Jadeja's Run Outs
In the 2015 World Cup, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Team India, the 2011 World Cup champions, faced a significant challenge in Australia. This time, the semifinal was in Australia, with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as the new opening pair, succeeding Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Despite their efforts, India couldn't overcome Australia on their turf. Australia set a formidable target of 328 runs, but India collapsed at 233 runs, suffering a 95-run loss. Crucial run-outs marked this match's turning point. Dhoni, at 65 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja, after scoring 5 runs, were both run out, contributing significantly to India's exit from the semifinal.
The Memorable 2019 World Cup Semifinal Run Out
A controversy erupted after the announcement of Virat Kohli-led Team India squad in the World Cup 2019. Ambati Rayudu, a regular in India's number four spot, was widely anticipated to be selected. However, MSK Prasad, the selector, opted for Vijay Shankar instead of Rayudu for the World Cup in England. He justified this choice by highlighting Shankar's versatile skills. This led to Rayudu, feeling sidelined, declaring his retirement, a decision he eventually retracted.
Dhoni's Run Out Moved Fans to Tears
In the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, the Indian team, captained by Virat Kohli, faced a challenging target of 239 runs. New Zealand, having lost 8 wickets, set this target. India's situation was grim as they were down to 92 runs with the loss of 6 wickets. A vital partnership between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, contributing 116 runs for the seventh wicket, revived India's chances of winning. However, Jadeja's dismissal after scoring a rapid 77 off 59 balls was a setback. The defining moment came when Dhoni, attempting a risky single, was run out by Martin Guptill's precise throw. Dhoni's fall for 50 runs off 72 balls led to India's eventual defeat by 18 runs. The impact of Dhoni's run out was profound, leaving countless fans in tears. This event was followed by Dhoni's retirement from international cricket the next year, embedding this match as a painful memory for Indian cricket enthusiasts.
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