NEW DELHI: November 19, 2023, will be remembered fondly by Australians as another chapter in their storied ODI World Cup history, but for Indian fans, it will remain a day of heartbreak. On this fateful day, Australia’s star opener Travis Head turned from an admired player to a villain in the eyes of Indian supporters, delivering a masterclass that dashed India’s hopes of ending their 12-year World Cup drought.
Australia entered the final as underdogs against an unbeaten Indian team led by Rohit Sharma, who had dominated the tournament with unparalleled consistency.
With one hand seemingly on the trophy, India appeared destined to reclaim World Cup glory that they last won way back in 2011 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy.
However, Australia’s resilience, led by Head’s brilliance, shattered those dreams.
Chasing India’s competitive 241 at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium, Australia stumbled early, losing two wickets in the powerplay. But Head stepped up under pressure, crafting a stunning 137 off 120 balls.
His 192-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out off 110 balls) blended calculated aggression with composure, dismantling India’s bowling attack and silencing the crowd.
With this victory, Head etched his name in cricketing history, guiding Australia to their sixth ODI World Cup title.