After a major competition like the World Cup, there are always long debates over what went wrong and how it happened. When anything unexpected occurs, it gets even more intense.
Exactly one week ago, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australia defeated India by six wickets in the final to break their undefeated run. This result defied both expectations and the general trend.
Experts and fans alike have discussed the final extensively, but nobody has likely provided a more first-hand account of it than the person who was present in the dugout that evening.
India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was benched for that match, analysed Australia captain Pat Cummins’ brilliance in the final, calling his stint a “game-breaking” phenomenon in his most recent YouTube video, “World Cup 2023: A Reflection.”
The Australian captain made a critical decision by sending India into the bat first after winning the toss. Bowling his entire 10-over allotment, Cummins conceded just 34 runs. In addition, he took two significant wickets from Virat Kohli (54), who was in form, and Shreyas Iyer (4).
Cummins produced the most economical stint of any bowler who finished their ten overs, at 3.40, followed by Adam Zampa (4.40), Mitchell Starc (5.50), and Josh Hazlewood (6.00).
Ashwin probed deeply into Cummins’ genius, analysing why it was difficult for the Indian hitters to take him on.
“Pat Cummins as an ODI bowler was struggling for quite some time in the World Cup,” said Ashwin. However, about 50% of the balls in the final four or five games were cutters.
“And in the final, I don’t know how many people explained on TV, he has a 4:5 field, like an off-spinner — four on the off-side and five on the leg side,” Ashwin clarified.
The Indian spinner made note of the fact that Cummins did not use a mid-off during any of his ten overs.
“He bowled only three balls in the 6-meter mark towards the stump line (basically didn’t bowl full enough to allow the batters to drive) in the entire 10-over spell,” stated Ashwin.
“He took important wickets in the championship match. Additionally, there were five fielders—square leg, midwicket, deep square leg, mid-on and long leg—on the stump line. He bowled without a mid-off during his entire ten overs. Aside from calling the toss well, Pat Cummins had a game-breaking spell,” Ashwin continued.
Following India’s 240-over outing, Travis Head’s Player of the Match-winning 137 and Marnus Labuschagne’s undefeated 58 helped Australia chase down the mark in 43 overs.