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BIG STORY NOVEMBER 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 4

WORLD CUP 2023

INDIA’S

HEROES

The crushing loss to Australia broke a billion hearts but the tournament gave all

Indians – at home and abroad –immense pride, hope, aspiration and a lesson about

the importance of team work

OUR BUREAU
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
t was a moment few expected. Or
a few wanted to ever see. The loss
Iin the World Cup Final was a mas-
sive blow to the hopes of more than
one billion people. India became a
see of sadness on Sunday. India cap-
tain Rohit Sharma and Player of the
Tournament Virat Kohli broke down
in tears after a painful defeat to Aus-
tralia in the ICC Cricket World Cup
2023 final.
But it was Australia who came
through on the big day. After a fast-
paced powerplay, the Australian
bowling attack collaborated to bowl
India out for 240. In the run chase
of 241, Travis Head was the standout
batter, striking an incredible centu-
ry to give Australia their sixth ICC
Cricket World Cup title.
The Men in Blue’s crushing
six-wicket loss to Australia at the Na-
rendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
saddened Rohit, who led the team Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over the World Cup to Pat Cummins (ANI)
with determination. Kohli, who scored
the most runs in the competition and et World Cup crown. World Cup 2023 Player of the Tour- their decade-long wait for an ICC tro-
was named player of the tournament, A billion Indian hearts were bro- nament. Kohli’s brilliance with the bat phy win. After the match, Rohit didn’t
was also devastated by the loss. In a vi- ken on Sunday, but none more than was a defining feature of the tourna- hold back while reflecting on the
ral video posted by a user on X, Rohit the 11 players who gave their all on ment, with India’s number three scor- game and admitted that they didn’t
and Virat were seen leaving the pitch the field to reach the final after com- ing at least a half-century in nine of his play their best cricket. “We didn’t
with tears in their eyes. peting fiercely in the tournament for 11 innings. His 765 runs in the tourna- put enough runs on the board. With
Having an unbeaten run through- more than a month. Even though In- ment are the most ever scored by an the seamers upfront, we took those
out the tournament till the final, In- dia did not win the 2023 World Cup individual batter at a men’s Cricket 3 wickets and another wicket there,
dia came so close to clinching their at home, the way they performed World Cup, surpassing the previ- we could open up the game. Credit
third World Cup crown, however, throughout the competition was noth- ous record set by Sachin Tendulkar, to those two guys in the middle for
Travis Head stood tall between Men ing short of an extraordinary dream who hit 673 in the 2003 tournament. stitching an outstanding partnership,”
in Blue’s victory and starred with the for the billions of Indian supporters. The bulk of the supporters gath- Rohit said after the match.
bat, hitting an inspired century to win India’s run-scoring machine Kohli ered at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Later, the tournament’s top
Australia’s men their sixth ICC Crick- was named the ICC Men’s Cricket wanting to see the host nation end Continued on next page... >>

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