*India were left grappling for answers after the team’s devastating defeatto Australia in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 at home extending theirdrought in global tournaments. *
A much-fancied India team led by skipper Rohit Sharma went into Sunday’sfinal in front of nearly 100,000 fans in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabadundefeated and favourites to capture the ODI crown.
But they were outplayed by Pat Cummins’ Australia, going down to asix-wicket defeat and leaving players, fans and pundits with a familiarfeeling of disappointment.
“You can’t deny the fact that it’s been more than 10 years since they won aglobal title,” Indian sports journalist R. Kaushik told AFP on Monday.
“If you look at the semi-final losses then there is a pattern, maybe thereis something wrong in the planning,” he added.
“You can interpret that as, ‘Yes, they freeze on the big stage’, or you cansay that, ‘On that day they were not good enough’. But it’s hard to saythey freeze mentally.”
India’s record makes for painful reading for its hundreds of millions offanatical supporters.
Their last global title came a decade ago with the 2013 Champions Trophy.
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Sunday was also India’s second loss to the Australians in a final in fivemonths after they went down in the World Test Championship decider in June.
India won the ODI World Cup in 1983 and 2011 at home but then faltered atthe semi-final stage in 2015 and 2019.
“India are the real chokers, they are the new chokers,” fan Abir Saini,wearing a Virat Kohli Indian jersey, fumed as he trudged away from theworld’s biggest cricket stadium.
“They play well but fall at the final hurdle.”
Fans had turned anticipating an Indian victory after the hosts stormed intothe final with 10 straight victories in the lead-up matches. -APP/AFP