It was an anticlimactic finish to the 2023 World Cup for arguably the largest cricketing fanbase -- India fans -- as they saw the best team on paper tumbling at the final hurdle only for Australia to clinch their sixth title last week.
ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said the one-day international (ODI) tournament had been a "great success."
Cricket Australia took a deep dive into Australia’s World Cup campaign in India and pointed out the five biggest risks the world champions took in the tournament-
“It's a lot better than seeing the World Cup on the couch at home,” said Travis Head as a smile crept across his face.
All Australia did was remind India that for once, not everything is about them.
"I think that's been almost faultless, to be honest,” Ponting told Sky Sports after the match.
Leading run scorer Virat Kohli — who was named player of the tournament — captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and top wicket-taker Mohammed Shami were all included in the team.
“It’s tough to watch boys like this,” Dravid told the media after his team’s heartbreaking six-wicket loss to Australia in the final.
Rahul was India’s top scorer in the final with 67 runs but it took the batter 107 balls to score those runs.
Australia's six-wicket win over India in front of a 92,000 crowd at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium may have been a disappointingly one-sided final
The 29-year-old's remarkable return from a broken hand that nearly ruled him out of the tournament was capped by him joining Adam Gilchrist and fellow legend Ricky Ponting as Australians to have made tons in deciding matches of the pinnacle men's ODI event.
Having braved the long, colourful and festive queues for hours early Sunday to get into the ground, many started leaving the stadium in droves by the 35th over of Australia's chase as the result became obvious.
"To win another World Cup in the manner and circumstance they have is one of the finest victories in our sporting history I reckon."
The Australian cricket team's uncanny ability to turn up at their very best when the stakes are the highest was on full display in the final of the ICC World Cup against India on Sunday.
As the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 reaches its climax today, 19 November, the much-awaited final between India and Australia is currently unfolding in India, captivating cricket enthusiasts around the globe. This high-octane match represents the pinnacle of international cricket, featuring two of the sport's most accomplished teams.
As a cricketer, Virat Kohli is in a league of his own. Cricket fans all around the world enjoy his energetic and powerful playing style. In fact, he broke Sachin Tendulkar's milestone for the most runs at an ODI World Cup with his 50th ODI century in India's semi-final match versus New Zealand during the 2023 World Cup.
India posted 240 runs after being sent into bat first
Drivers honked at fans blocking roads, shouting slogans and bargaining with roadside hawkers hours before the Sunday afternoon finale between the cricket-crazy hosts and the game's traditional powerhouse Australia.
"India are so powerful in their own conditions that I would say they would win this final 95 times out of 100," Broad wrote in his column for Daily Mail.