Team India endured a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final at The Oval on Sunday (June 11).

Chasing 444 to win, India reached 164/3 at stumps on Day 4. They needed 280 runs on the fifth and final day with seven wickets in hand but got bundled out for 234 in the first session to lose the match by a huge margin.

After the disappointing result, BCCI president Roger Binny said that India lost the game on the first day itself.

Notably, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first but Indian bowlers failed to make the most of the overcast conditions. Australia rode on centuries from Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) to pile up 469 in their first innings.

Speaking to ANI, Binny said that the 251-run partnership between Head and Smith on the backfoot.

"We lost the game on the first day itself. The big partnership that Australia put on was what really turned the tables in this game. Otherwise, the game was even. If you take away that partnership, the game was totally even," Binny stated.

In response, India’s first innings folded for 296, conceding a substantial lead of 173 runs. Australia declared their second innings at 270/8 to set a huge target of 444.

Binny urged the Indian players to keep their spirits high and focus on the ODI World Cup, slated to be held in October-November this year at home.

“We have something bigger coming up in the future so we have to keep our spirits up and make sure that we do well in the World Cup and it’s at home. So that is important,” he remarked.