Australia’s tactical prowess against India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has garnered commendation from Ravichandran Ashwin. Australia thoroughly outclassed Team India in the summit match; the Indians were favorites going into the match because they were playing at home and had an undefeated record.
Many were taken aback when the Australians chose to bowl first. But they made a history-making display to support their choice. Pat Cummins and company stuck to their plan, choking India in the middle overs. While also taking wickets at regular intervals. Even after giving up 80 runs in the opening powerplay.
With the timely removal of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, Cummins himself played a pivotal role. He finished with figures of 2-34 off 10 overs.
Ashwin was shell-shocked to see Australia’s tactics during the final
Both Australia’s strategies and Cummins’ flexibility. Who had seen a decline in his ODI form heading into the knockout stages—were commended by Ashwin.
“Australia were tactically outstanding in the final. I was shell-shocked to see their tactics during the final. Cummins was struggling in ODIs leading upto the World Cup, but the last four to five matches of the World Cup, almost 50 percent of his balls were cutters,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“In the final, Cummins had a 4-5 field like an off-spinner does. He bowled only three balls over six-meter mark in his entire 10 over spell, he did not bowl full enough for the batters to get under or drive,” he added
Australia won their sixth ODI World Cup after holding India to 240, which they chased down in just 43 overs.
Ashwin claimed that the Aussies trusted their experience of playing IPL and bilateral series in the subcontinent for years, leading them to make the right call.
“Australia has deceived me personally,” he said. “I expected them to bat first and score big like they do in the finals. The soil in Ahmedabad was like Orissa, there will not be much bounce, but the soil will not disintegrate because the clay does not release the moisture, it holds it.“Ashwin added.
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