Finally, the cricket ODI world cup 2023 is over. And, Australia beat India and won the World Cup.
Here are my impressions:
India was superb with unbeaten performance (9 to zero) at the Group Stage.
They are all professional players. On a given day any team can beat any other team. For example: Australia became the world champion. But at the Group Stage South Africa beat Australia. And, the lowly Netherlands beat South Africa. What can we say! My suggestion is there should be "best of 3" for the final instead of just one match.
I cannot imagine such a poor performance by India at the finals. Only 2 boundaries and no sixers in 20 overs? India’s total of 240 had only 13 boundaries and 3 sixers. Only 35 runs from the 11th to 20th over. Only 37 runs from the 21st over to 30th over. (That too with Kohli and Rahul at the crease)
The Australians effectively shut the Narendra Modi stadium crowd. May be the Indian team thought the crowd is on our side and that will make the Australians nervous.
The Australian team had 7 players who participated in the 2015 World Cup. Therefore, they have plenty of prior experience.
I don’t even want to talk about the coin toss controversy and pitch controversy because they are rumors and not confirmed.
And then, it is after all a game and no need to take them personally by the spectators. We should support the team we like. But we should not over do it. I have heard news about people doing archana in temples and priests doing homam for India to win. A friend of mine told me about a running commentary in Tamil and the commentator was saying (when Australia was batting) “sivaram sivaram sivaram wicket vizhanum. Namma India jaikanum” (Oh God another wicket should fall now. Our India should win). I thought the job of a commentator is to tell the listeners what is happening on the field. I wonder if this was a legitimate ICC approved commentary.
One sad note. Per reports in the newspapers, India’s first World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev was not invited to watch the finals. Very sad. How many Indians would have celebrated in 1983. Where are they now and what are they saying?
Want to end this post with a lighter note. I am glad it is over. I am relieved in a sense that I don’t have to keep awake and watch the matches from 12:30 am (California time) to 9 am.
Cricket is a very unpredictable game. More often than not, on any particular day, the better team wins. India was in great form without a single loss but folded ignominiously on the day of reckoning to a better team. Luck also plays a great part.No one need be blamed for this collective failure though it hurts after the great hype.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. That is why I am proposing "best of 3" instead of just one match for the finals.
ReplyDeleteIf India had won, what would be our reaction?
DeleteIf India had won, Bharat Ratna would be awarded to all the players and coaches.
DeleteThe finals should be set among the teams as in the IPL format. That would be fair, than just deciding on a single game for the leaders at the league stage.
ReplyDeleteBest of 3 is a good idea, fair too. More revenue for ICC as well :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh.
DeleteOnce they select semifinal, if they play best of three and then goes to final with best of 5 games similar to NBA in USA will be better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments seema. Or, as Anonymous said they could use IPL format.
DeleteA cricket fanatic guy in Tirupathi passed away yesterday night once he heard India lost against Australia with sudden heart attack watching the finals. It is really pathetic to hear this.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry. People should see this as pastime only.
DeleteIt was indeed a shock, considering that India 10 wins to no losses till the semi-final. Unfortunately, the bad day had to be on the day of the final.
ReplyDeleteThere was no doubt that the better team yesterday was indeed Australia. I think there was too much of expectation from the Indian team. In fact, the feeling was that we had won the cup even before the match had begun.
The 'best of 3' is a good idea. In fact, many games like tennis, badminton etc have best 3 or best 5. But then, what about other games like football, hockey, etc.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. If India had lost one or two matches during group sage, they would not have been this much over confident. Best of 3 or IPL format is a good one. Other games like football and hockey are not dependent on the pitch condition and winning toss.
DeleteAgree that it is a match- a game. Whoever plays better on that day, wins.
ReplyDeleteI too prayed for our team.
I did not watch the Finals though.
I was in the living room in front of my laptop trying to write. I heard cheering from my neighbour's home for less time.
Later, I feared that things were not on India's side as I hardly heard any cheers or fireworks bursting. :(
Thanks for your comments Anita.
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