ICC ODI World Cup: A heartbreak that continues to sting as sharply as when it first struck, this year completes two decades since India endured a painful defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final. The occasion seemed ideal for Indian cricket stalwarts like Tendulkar, Ganguly, Kumble, Srinath, and Dravid to conclude the tournament triumphantly. However, the Australian team outperformed the Men in Blue, preventing their victory.
India’s journey to the 2003 ICC ODI World Cup Final
India’s World Cup journey had been notably impressive, with their sole defeat in the league stage being against Australia. The team created numerous unforgettable instances during the tournament, with standout individual displays such as Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan and Ashish Nehra’s 6-wicket haul against England leaving a lasting impact on Indian fans.
As the final approached, there were high expectations for India to halt Australia’s undefeated streak in the tournament. Unfortunately for the Indian side, the match was thoroughly one-sided, with the Australians dominating from start to finish. The Aussies secured a commanding 125-run triumph, securing their third World Cup title.
Opting to field after winning the toss in Johannesburg, India saw Australian openers Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden amass a partnership of 105 runs for the first wicket. Harbhajan Singh made the breakthrough, dismissing Gilchrist for 37. Harbhajan struck once more, eliminating Hayden on 37, six overs later.
Nonetheless, Hayden’s dismissal marked the final breakthrough for Australia’s innings. Captain Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn then joined forces, launching an onslaught against the Indian bowlers with a barrage of shots. Ponting’s remarkable batting show saw him finish unbeaten on 140, including eight sixes in his innings. Martyn, on the other hand, also remained unbeaten with a score of 88. Aussies ended their inning with a score of 359/2.
Sachin Tendulkar’s one of the biggest disappointment
India faced a major setback in the opening over of their innings, losing in-form batsman Sachin Tendulkar for just four runs. This early wicket acted as a significant morale boost for Australia, leading to a dominant performance where they dismantled India’s middle-order, claiming three wickets with the score at 59. None of the batter could score big. Virender Sehwag held one end, offering a glimmer of hope, but as wickets fell on the opposite side, India’s innings concluded at 234 runs. Sehwag’s resilient effort yielded 82 runs from 81 balls.
In a later interview, Tendulkar confessed that the defeat in the 2003 World Cup final stands out as one of his “biggest disappointments in life.”
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