India vs Australia LIVE: Cricket World Cup final reaction after Travis Head century leads Aussies to victory
Australia stunned hosts India to win the Cricket World Cup final by six wickets in Ahmedabad
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Your support makes all the difference.Australia won a record-extending sixth World Cup title after opener Travis Head smashed a magnificent century to fashion their six-wicket victory in Sunday’s final against the tournament’s form team India.
Put into bat, India rode battling half-centuries by KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to post a below-par 240 all out in exactly 50 overs at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium.
Australia suffered a top-order wobble of their own but Head’s 137 off 120 balls saw them romp home with seven overs to spare in a match that never reached great heights.
Around 93,000 predominantly Indian fans sat mostly in deathly silence as the home team, who had won 10 matches in a row to make the final, succumbed to their first loss of the tournament
Relive all the match action and reaction below:
India vs Australia
The umpires and players are about to come out onto the field and it’s almost time for national anthems.
There is a huge cheer as Sachin Tendulkar walks out ahead of the teams.
India vs Australia
India captain Rohit Sharma has urged his team-mates to contain their emotions as they prepare for a home World Cup final that represents “the biggest moment” of their sporting lives.
Twelve years since their last triumph on the global stage, cricket’s superpower nation is one game away from glory as the duo battle with Australia in Ahmedabad.
Rohit Sharma highlights the importance of India’s work ethic ahead of final
The captain acknowledges the Ahmedabad match against Australia will be ‘the biggest moment’ of their sporting lives.
India vs Australia
Here are some photos of the team warming up ahead of play:
Australia win the toss and choose to bowl
Pat Cummins confirms Australia are unchanged from their semi-final and Rohit confirms he would have chosen to bat if he had won the toss.
Rohit Sharma: “It’s a dream come true to be captaining the team in the final, but there is a task in front of us.”
India are also playing the same team.
Australia win the toss and choose to bowl
Pat Cummins has won the toss and will bowl first: “It looks like a bit of a drier wicket, so bowl on it during the day and chase on it in the evening.
“We’ve played these guys a lot, it’s always a fantastic day and I don’t think it’ll be any different today.”
India vs Australia
In case you were wondering, here is what has been decided for the additional performances at the stadium:
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 finale between India and Australia on Sunday will feature performances by Dua Lipa and an aerial show by the Indian Air Force.
The high-profile match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world, and will have several VIPs attending, including the Indian and Australian prime ministers.
Cricket World Cup final to include pre-game show featuring Dua Lipa and IAF flypast
There was no opening ceremony ahead of first game of cricket tournament, but hosts India are pulling out all the stops for final in which they are favourites
India vs Australia
Onto the match itself, and here is a pitch report:
Hosts India will face Australia on Sunday 19 November in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
The 48-game tournament will conclude at the 130,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium in the world.
Both India and Australia have had stellar performances throughout the World Cup, and the teams are now just one step away from achieving the greatest accolade in cricket.
IND v AUS: Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report, Ahmedabad weather ahead of WC final
Final Cricket World Cup 2023 showdown takes place this Sunday
India vs Australia
Turning attention towards the final, but firstly a small controversy over the late pitch-change for India’s match against the Kiwis.
A major controversy has erupted after the pitch for India’s semi-final cricket match against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 was changed at the last minute, dubbed by one commentator as “outrageous”.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian team management were accused of getting the pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium changed before the match, without taking the permission of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC has come out in defence of the late switch and said such changes were “common”.
Strong remarks were made over accusations that the change favoured the Indian side. Indian commentator and former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar dismissed the accusations and said those making them were “morons” who he hoped would “just shut up”.
Why India is under fire over pitch change ahead of Cricket World Cup final
Cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar says ‘morons’ saying pitch change benefited Indian side should ‘just shut up’
India vs Australia
And here’s a look back at Australia’s narrow win over South Africa:
Australia survived a determined South African resistance to secure a place in the Cricket World Cup final with a thrilling three-wicket win in a low-scoring but entertaining semi-final.
The two semi-finals could not have been more different. In Mumbai, India blew New Zealand away with their batting prowess, and dominated with skilful bowling, while both teams in Kolkata had to dig in and battle in the bowling-friendly conditions.
Australia hold their nerve against South Africa to reach Cricket World Cup final
Australia had to dig deep to secure a close-fought victory over South Africa in Kolkata
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