Finals of the WTC, ODI World Cup, and U19 World Cup: Australia’s triad of ICC trophy dominance against India

To Indian cricket fans, it was a rerun. Just three months before, Team India, captained by Rohit Sharma, went undefeated into the 2023 ODI World Cup final, raising expectations that the country’s ten-year ICC trophy drought would finally come to an end. But Pat Cummins’ team ended the streak as Australia won a historic sixth championship. In what was billed as a “shot at redemption,” the young Indian team, riding high on their own winning streak, faced Australia in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup final in Benoni on Sunday. However, the narrative did not change.

Australia set a record target of 254 runs after Harjas Singh and Ryan Hicks put up a 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket and Oliver Peake’s resistance in the last 10 overs. The first-inning total of 253/7 was the highest by any side in the young World Cup final. Additionally, on a ground that provided lots of lateral movement and speed, the total appeared excessive for the team captained by Uday Saharan.

India’s strength in the run-up to the final has been their batting, but none of the players, even the heroes of the semifinal victory against South Africa, Sachin Dhas and Saharan, were able to muster an effort against the tenacious Australian attack. India was dismissed for 174 runs in 43.5 overs, despite some early resistance from opener Adarsh Singh and strong closing-order fighting from Murugan Abhishek.

After losing by 79 runs at Willowmoore Park, India has now lost its last three ICC competition final matches against Australia.

WTC Final 2023: Australia defeated India by a score of 209 runs.
After defeating Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series a few months before, India was the clear favorite going into the June final. However, Travis Head’s outstanding 163 in the first innings of the match at the Oval turned out to be the game-winning blow. Despite Ajinkya Rahane’s impressive 89-run effort and his partnership of 71 runs with Ravindra Jadeja, Australia’s 496 was just too much to overcome in the first innings.

With 66 runs in the second innings, Alex Carrey and Mitchell Starc shared 93 runs, helping Australia set a massive 444-run mark. With Virat Kohli at his side, Rahane attempted once more to rally India, but Scott Boland claimed three vital wickets before Nathan Lyon used his four-fer to smash through the lower order for only 234 runs.

Australia defeated India by six wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup Final.
Head was Australia’s hero once again, this time with a record-breaking 137 as the team needed seven more overs to chase down the 241-run mark. Following India’s top-order collapse, in which skipper Rohit scored a forceful 47 off just 31 balls, Kohli and KL Rahul put up a slow 67-run partnership. India only managed 240 runs, with the previous captain scoring 54 off 63 balls and the wicketkeeper-batter scoring 66 off 107 balls.

Australia also lost their first three wickets fast, but they recovered and finished the chase in time to win the World Cup for the first time in nine years thanks to a record 192-run partnership between Marcus Stonis and Aaron Head.