CWC 2023: “I'm disappointed and disheartened…,” Kapil Dev hopes Indian team will learn from World Cup final loss

India won all their nine league matches and the semi-final before losing to Australia in the title clash.

By Salman Anjum - 24 Nov, 2023

Team India’s dream of lifting the Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy was crushed on Sunday (November 19) as they lost to Australia in the final by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rohit Sharma’s men were on a winning streak of 10 matches before the final but the Aussies outplayed them in the title clash.

On a slow pitch, the Indian batters managed to post a below-par 240 on the board and the Men in Blue chased it down with seven overs to spare.

Just like the millions of fans, India’s first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev was also disappointed by the result of the final match but he was impressed with the Indian team’s display in the showpiece event.

"Today's cricketers, sorry they couldn't win the World Cup, but they played well. I know in our mind, winning is everything. But the way of play is more important. Other people had also come here to play. Other people played better (on the) last day. We should respect that," Kapil was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

"I'm disappointed and disheartened that they played so well and yet they couldn't win the trophy. But (it) doesn't matter. Let's hope what we didn't understand this time, we'll learn and do it better. That's the way we are," he added.

After losing the final, India skipper Rohit Sharma had admitted that they were not good enough on the day.

"The result has not gone our way. We were not good enough today. We tried everything we could but I feel wicket got slightly better to bat under lights. Don't want to give that as an excuse. We knew under lights it would be slightly better to bat, but don't want to give that as an excuse. We didn't put enough runs on the board. With the seamers upfront, we took those 3 wickets and another wicket there, we could open up the game. Credit to those two guys in the middle for stitching an outstanding partnership," Rohit had said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

(With ANI Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 24 Nov, 2023

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