Gautam Gambhir said the result of World Cup 2023 final could have been different had India batters like KL Rahul taken more risks in the middle overs.
India’s dreams of winning a third World Cup title were dashed on Sunday when they lost in the final by six wickets to Australia. Hosts India were the favorites going into the match, not just because they had won every game in the tournament; they had hardly been challenged by any team, including Australia themselves, in the opening game for both sides. While Australia had lost the first match by six wickets, they reversed that result for India in the final.
Before the final, India had scored over 350 in three of their previous four games, with the only time they didn’t do so being against South Africa. They had scored 326 in that match and went on to win by a whopping 243 runs. However, they were all out for just 240 runs in the final in 50 overs and Australia chased it down in 43 overs. India had scored 80 runs in the first 10 overs but they managed to hit just four fours and no sixes for the rest of their innings. Former batter Gautam Gambhir said that it would’ve been better if India had tried hitting more boundaries with someone taking more risks in the middle overs.
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“It’s a double-edged sword. But I have always said this, the most courageous team will go on to win the World Cup. I can understand that you need time to build a partnership but 11 to 40 overs is a very, very long time. Someone should have taken that risk,” Gautam Gambhir told Sportskeeda.
‘Either we go for 150 all out or end up with 300’: Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir admitted that India could have ended up falling for a lesser score had they remained aggressive but they should’ve tried to score quicker regardless of that. The former opener, who scored 97 in the final of the 2011 World Cup and was instrumental to India’s victory in that match, said that getting 240 should have never been an acceptable scenario.
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“I would have actually liked India going really aggressive with their top 6-7 batters even if they had been all out for 150. I would have been fine. But if you feel you can defend 240 in a World Cup final…that is not where you fight. It is either this way or that. Either we go 150 all out or 300. That is where India have lacked. That is where India have not gone on to win ICC tournaments. Rohit should have sent the message before the game that even if I get out we should go aggressive,” he said.