Ravichandran Ashwin, a participant in Team India during the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup, praised Australia for their triumph in the final against the Men in Blue. He lauded Australia for their tactical brilliance in the summit clash held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, securing their sixth title and extending their record.
Ashwin anticipated that Australia, in line with their historical pattern, would choose to bat first in the final. However, he was taken aback by their decision, attributing it to a strategic assessment of the black soil on the pitch, known to favor batting in the evening.
In a statement released on his YouTube channel, Ashwin emphasized that Australia's triumph did not hinge on fate or chance; instead, it stemmed from their exceptional strategic approach in the final.He acknowledged being misled, as he had expected Australia to bat first after winning the toss, given their historical tendency. Ashwin clarified that the pitch in the final was not the typical Ahmedabad soil but rather from Odisha, presenting a surface that did not disintegrate significantly.
While examining the pitch in the middle of the innings, I engaged in a conversation with George Bailey, Australia's chairman of selectors. Intrigued, I queried him about the choice of not batting first. Bailey clarified that they opted to bowl first due to the nature of the black soil on the pitch, which tends to become more favorable for batting in the evening.
He explained in detail about Australia's strategic learnings from the South Africa game played on red clay in Lucknow. This experience made him realize that it is beneficial to bat first on red clay surfaces, but chasing is more beneficial on black clay, where the ball skids well in the presence of dew.
Ashwin acknowledged Australia's bold decision to include the injured Travis Head in the squad for the first half of the World Cup. Head went on to deliver exceptional performances in the semi-final and final, earning him the player of the match accolade.
"In typical scenarios, teams might hesitate to carry an injured player to maintain a complete 15-member squad. However, Australia's unwavering faith in Head's abilities led them to include him, even when not fully fit. This choice conveyed a clear message that 'we support our players.' Ultimately, Australia's outstanding values and belief in their team played a pivotal role in their successful World Cup campaign."
Ashwin also commended Australian captain Pat Cummins for his strategic brilliance in the final, implementing a field reminiscent of an off-spinner.
"The final demonstrated a tactical masterclass by Cummins, employing a 4-5 field setup characteristic of an off-spinner, focusing on the stump line. He strategically bowled only three balls within the 6-meter mark towards the stumps, restricting batters from driving. Cummins bowled his entire quota of 10 overs without a mid-off, delivering a game-changing spell, in addition to winning the toss."
Despite featuring in only one match, the World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai, Ashwin expressed surprise at his limited appearances. He concluded by praising India for their "rock-solid run," despite falling short in the final.
"I never anticipated that my World Cup memories would conclude with the Australia game in Chepauk," Ashwin remarked. “I was in good form, bowling well and in good rhythm. Although the ending was disappointing, with our dreams shattered, I must acknowledge that India had a remarkably consistent run. We displayed outstanding cricket throughout the World Cup."
