Last Updated on 11 months by Charbel Coorey

Cricket Opinion: 5 reasons why Australia won the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final | Why Australia won the ODI World Cup Final vs India

Australia won another World Cup. What’s new? In this case, quite a bit.

In arguably their greatest Cricket World Cup triumph, Australia overcame an Indian team that was so dominant throughout the tournament in front of nearly 100,000 fans in a sea of blue at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahmedabad. Pat Cummins’ team ended up winning nine games in a row after losing their first two in convincing fashion, peaking at the perfect time to extract revenge against South Africa and India after those early defeats.

The performance in the final was as clinical as it was remarkable. Captain Cummins called for his team to silence the mammoth crowd, and that they did, sealing an incredible sixth title in 13 World Cups with victory by six wickets and 42 deliveries to spare.

5 reasons why Australia won the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final

A display to remember. Australia’s calmness and execution was simply outstanding. It is a performance that will be looked back upon with great joy by all associated with Australian cricket.

Here is a deeper look into the five reasons why Australia won the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final against a highly-fancied India team.

Read the conditions perfectly

We’ve all heard the cliché. Bat first in a final, get runs on the board, and put scoreboard pressure on the opposition in the second innings. However, Pat Cummins does not operate in clichés. The captain sent shockwaves through the Australian cricket fanbase with the decision to bowl first, with a slow looking pitch and evening dew in mind.

In the group stage, the chasing team won three of four matches, but it was still a big call to chase in a final. But, Cummins and the thinktank got it spot on. India’s quest to beat Australia on a slow pitch backfired as the Australians got the best of the conditions off the back of a brave and decisive move at the toss.

A relentless fielding display that sets the standard for all aspiring cricketers

Rohit Sharma got his team off to a flyer once again, smacking a 31-ball 47 that contained three sixes and four fours. So, it would have been easy for Australia to panic and doubt their decision at the toss.

However, amid the storm was a sense of calm in the Australian camp. Their fielding in the early stages oozed confidence, and a feeling was in the air that if one chance came their way, they’d take it. Travis Head delivered, taking one of the great World Cup Final catches to turn the game on its head (no pun intended). Rohit, looking to take Maxwell on again, skewed one over the cover region. Head, running back, took a classic, after which India managed just 164 runs in the remaining 40.2 overs.

The middle overs were an almighty struggle for India, with Kohli and Rahul combining for a laborous 67 off 109 balls. But it wasn’t for the want of trying. It felt like no matter where or how well the Indians hit the ball, a man in a yellow shirt was there to cut it off, whether in the circle or in the deep.

“It’s like the ball is in a maximum security prison, it can’t escape” said Harsha Bhogle on commentary. Later in the innings, he was again full of praise for the fielders. “It’s like there are 25 Australians out there,” he said as the Australians saved countless runs once again – a feature of their cricket since that awful day in the field back on October 12.

Superb tactics by the Australian thinktank

At the cornerstone of Australia’s fielding performance were rock solid tactics. The Australians had specific plans for every single Indian player, starting from a deep point right away to Rohit Sharma to an extremely fine third-man for Suryakumar Yadav’s ramp shot over the wicket-keeper.

Behind every fielder’s position was meticulous planning. You could tell the Aussies did their homework as just five boundaries were struck following Rohit’s dismissal two deliveries before the end of the tenth over. A lot of thought went into this match, and Australia did not have a lot of time to do so given it was just a few days after their tense, tight win over South Africa at Eden Gardens.

Even better execution with the ball – reverse swing and changes of pace

Heading into the tournament, the worry for India was their lower order. This concern grew bigger with the injury to Hardik Pandya. However, it wasn’t felt throughout the campaign as the top order was so dominant.

But, that came to a halt at the worst possible time. Australia chipped away in the middle overs, knowing that the wicket of Virat Kohli can force a serious rethink for India. That it did, with the hosts sending in Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Suryakumar Yadav, with the latter kept for the finishing role. But, Jadeja, along with KL Rahul and the lower order, were done by some magnificent reverse swing bowling.

Mitchell Starc’s delivery to Rahul was particularly impressive, indicative of a bowler who knows how to step it up when it really matters in crunch World Cup games. Couple that with Australia’s regular changes in length and pace, and India simply couldn’t get a foothold. The crowd knew it, with anxiety building right around the Narendra Modi Stadium, with good reason.

Glorious partnership by Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne

Australia’s chase of 241 hit very rocky waters in the powerplay. Each ball was an event, with three wickets falling relatively quickly to put India right in the game. Also, Head was struggling significantly early, but the fact he got through the powerplay spelt trouble for the Indians.

Head got going with the calm and composed Marnus Labuschagne with such authority that the fielders’ heads dropped with each passing run. The latter, who was persisted with over Marcus Stoinis, was solid as a rock, enabling Head to do his thing en route to the second-highest ever partnership (192) in a World Cup Final.

The first? Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn’s 234 in that 2003 Final that still haunts many India fans to this day.

Head taking down Jasprit Bumrah was a highlight of the chase. Also, he was at his attacking best against spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who barely fired a shot. In the end, they finished with combined figures of 0/99 off 20 overs. Economical, but nowhere near what India needed when defending a moderate score.

Indeed, the fact it was Head and Labuschagne to deliver victory is reflective of the team management’s decision making. They made the call to keep Head in the squad as he was recovering from his broken hand, believing that he could make a difference at the business end of the tournament. And that he did. Also, the thinktank decided to not only include Labuschagne at the 11th hour, but play him in every match, even with all squad members fit and available in the semi-final and final.