Cricket
World Cup Final: Sachin Tendulkar consoles emotional Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli after India’s defeat
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Legendary Sachin Tendulkar cheered for India when they were ruthless in the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai and he was there again on Sunday in Ahmedabad to put an arm around the Indian team players after they lost the World Cup 2023 final to Australia. Tendulkar was seen walking up to the Indian team, who were waiting to get their runners-up medal, and consoling the players, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
WORLD CUP 2023 FINAL: Scorecard | Highlights
Captain Rohit Sharma was unable to control his emotions as India went down in the World Cup 2023 final by 6 wickets. Rohit held back his tears as he walked back to the dressing room after the one-sided final. Virat Kohli, who won the Player of the Tournament award after his record-breaking tally of 765 runs, had his face buried in his cap as he walked off the field at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
India players looked dejected and heartbroken even after they returned from the dressing room for the awards ceremony after the final in Ahmedabad. Sachin Tendulkar, who was part of the dignitaries, made sure he walked up to the players and comforted them with a couple of words and a pat on Rohit and Kohli’s back.
Tendulkar has been in this position in the past as he finished the 2003 World Cup with 673 runs but ended up on the losing side in the big final in Johannesburg to a Ricky Ponting-led Australian attack.
Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah put an arm around Mohammed Siraj, who was not able to control his tears in the middle
India’s formidable 10-match winning streak was halted by a resolute Australian side. The final ended in heartbreak for the host nation as they succumbed to a six-wicket defeat, denying them their third World Cup title.
India’s journey to the final had been nothing short of spectacular, with a series of commanding performances that saw them beat New Zealand by 70 runs to secure their place in the ultimate showdown. However, the final painted a different picture as India’s batting lineup, which had been robust throughout the tournament, faltered when it mattered most.
The pitch conditions played a significant role in shaping the match’s outcome. It was on the slower side, and Australia exploited this by bowling cutters that stifled India’s ability to score freely. The Indian batsmen struggled to adapt, and despite a patient 66 from KL Rahul and a half-century from Virat Kohli, the team could only muster a modest total of 240 runs.
Australia’s decision to bowl first, influenced by the dewy conditions expected later in the day, proved to be a masterstroke. Pat Cummins’ unchanged team executed their plans to perfection, with Mitchell Starc delivering an early blow by dismissing Shubman Gill for just four runs.
The star of the show, however, was Australia’s Travis Head, whose sparkling century not only quietened the 100,000-strong home crowd but also steered Australia towards a comfortable victory with seven overs to spare. His innings was a masterclass in pacing a chase, and his Player of the Match performance was instrumental in securing Australia’s record-extending sixth World Cup title.
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