Australia are now six-time World Cup champions.
Marnus Labuschagne revealed that he always believed in 'miracles' even when things seemed tough in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final against India on November 19.
Notably, Labuschagne wasn't initially part of Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup squad but got the chance at the last minute when Ashton Agar got injured. And he grabbed the golden opportunity with both hands and played a key role in Australia’s historic World Cup title win.
The 29-year-old batter scored 362 runs in 10 innings with the help of three fifties at an average of 40.22 in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Read Also: CWC 2023: World Cup triumph “pinnacle” of Australia's stellar year, reckons Pat Cummins
In the summit clash, the right-hander held his nerve and showed great determination during his 192-run partnership with Travis Head (137) against India at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Labuschagne also played a gritty knock of 58* off 110 balls to play a key role in Australia’s record sixth World Cup win, as the Kangaroos crushed Team India by 6 wickets in the final on Sunday.
Marnus Labuschagne told cricket.com.au: “It's hard for me not to believe in miracles, and that there's someone above putting the pieces together. Last night, at 10 o'clock, the team hadn't been announced yet. Didn't know (if I was playing), I was sitting on my bed.
And I was actually thinking: How can I add value then if I'm not playing? Maybe fielding? Then at quarter past 10, the team got sent out and it just said 'same team'. So that was a bit of a relief.”
Read Also: CWC 2023: Mitchell Marsh slammed by fans for putting his feet on Cricket World Cup trophy
Before the World Cup 2023, a wrist injury to Steve Smith opened the ODI team’s doors for Labuschagne for the five-match ODI series in South Africa. But he was overlooked for the first ODI in Bloemfontein. But once he got the opportunity, Australia has stuck with the Queenslander.
Labuschagne said: “I think I was unofficially dropped five times, but played every game. I wasn't in the squad in South Africa. Someone got concussed, I got an opportunity, got some runs, pushed my case, got in the squad, and played 19 games since the first South Africa (ODI) in a row.”
He signed off by saying, “So, it's hard for me not to think, you know, as a man of faith, that there's not someone else pulling the strings. I'm very thankful to the coaches and selectors for sticking by me... Luckily, I got us over the line.”
Notably, Australia will next face India in the T20I series from November 23 onwards.