Team India entered the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on the back of 10 successive wins. The Men in Blue defeated all nine opponents comprehensively in the league stage before beating New Zealand in the first semi-final.
However, Rohit Sharma’s men were completely outplayed by Australia in the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last Sunday (November 19).
Reflecting on India’s loss, former cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said Australia brilliantly exploited 'little chinks' in the home team’s batting line-up in the World Cup final to clinch a record-extending sixth title.
Manjrekar highlighted a significant 'lack of depth' in India's batting in the absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
"India felt the pressure of not having depth; you know, those little chinks in India's armour came to the fore," Manjrekar told Star Sports.
Manjrekar cited the example of KL Rahul’s cautious approach to elaborate his point.
"The batting depth wasn't there, and you saw the way KL Rahul played a bulk of the innings with the knowledge that there isn't much batting to come. Well, India had certain limitations that they had covered beautifully throughout the tournament, with Jadeja at number 7 and their batting finishing at number 6," he explained.
On a slow pitch, Indian batters failed to get going and managed to post only 240/10 in 50 overs after being asked to bat first.
While skipper Rohit Sharma played a fiery knock of 31-ball 47 at the top, the hosts lost three wickets for 81 runs in the 11th over. Subsequently, Virat Kohli (54 off 63) and KL Rahul (66 off 107) adopted a consolidation strategy in the middle overs, where India struggled to find the boundary.
In reply, the Aussies rode on Travis Head’s stunning hundred (137 off 120) and Marnus Labuschagne’s unbeaten half-century (58 off 110) to seal the chase with seven overs remaining.
According to Sanjay Manjrekar, the pressure of the final had a part to play in India's capitulation.
"Just imagine this game was a league match between Sri Lanka and India; would India have taken that risk? Maybe yes, that is where perhaps temperament comes in, and maybe, if it was a league match, India would have played differently," he remarked.
