Suresh Raina Reveals Key Factor Behind Australia’s World Cup Final Victory
New Delhi – Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has shed light on the factor that led to Australia’s success in the World Cup final against India. According to Raina, the uncanny captaincy of Pat Cummins proved to be a major difference in the highly anticipated match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In a surprising move, Cummins chose to put India to bat first, a decision that contradicted the preference of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. However, as the game unfolded, Cummins’ strategy paid off, with Australia managing to restrict India to a score of 240, a formidable achievement considering India’s strong batting lineup.
Raina praised Cummins’ captaincy, citing his smart move to bring Glenn Maxwell into the attack, resulting in the dismissal of Rohit Sharma with a brilliant catch from Travis Head. The Indian veteran also highlighted the performances of Adam Zampa and Cummins himself, who played crucial roles in dismissing Virat Kohli and outsmarting the Indian team with their well-executed plans.
Australia’s remarkable fielding performance also contributed significantly to their victory, with agile fielders stopping numerous runs and displaying exceptional catching skills in the outfield. Raina estimated that the Australian side saved around 30 to 40 runs through their sharp reflexes and efficient fielding, with notable contributions from players like David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne.
This victory marked Australia’s sixth title in the history of the 50-over World Cup, while India had to settle for two World Cups, won in 1983 in England and in 2011 on home soil. Despite the loss, Raina expressed optimism for India’s future performances, believing that they will continue to excel in major tournaments and learn valuable lessons from their experiences.
We will see the Indian team doing well again because they know how to reach the latter stages of tournaments now. It just takes a bit of time to understand how to manage those pressure situations, especially when you’re at home. Sometimes when there’s a lot of pressure, you can lose your focus, and I think that’s a lesson they will learn from this, Raina said.
Looking ahead, the next edition of the World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2027. Raina’s comments instill hope that India will bounce back and showcase their prowess in the tournament.
