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Australia won their record sixth ICC Cricket Men’s World Cup trophy in 2023 by beating India in the finals in Narendra Modi stadium , Ahmedabad by six wickets . After the historic win powered by a majestic hundred by Travis Head , the man who lifted the glittering trophy was the tall and handsome with Hollywood star good looks 30- year Old Australian Captain Pat Cummins. It could not have been better end for the fast bowler who many thought did not have the astute thinking to lead in major tournament.
When cricket Cricket Australia named him as skipper after the Aaron Finch announced retirement ,there were doubters all- around . How will a fast bowler lead. But Cummins proved them all wrong . First he lead Australia to the WTC title beating India – The Oval, June 07 – 11, 2023 by massive 209 runs. And then retained the Ashes in 2023 against England in England. A captain had arrived on the scene.
In the ICC men’s cricket World Cup 2013 in India , the Aussies got off to a disastrous start. Losing their opening two encounters to New Zealand and South Africa. The pressure was on the young 30- year old Skipper Cummins. Cummins was blunt in his team talk later on as he planned Australia’s remarkable turn- around . Winning 7 of the remaining 9 matches including the final.
In his straight talk he asked his batting line-up to fire and they responded in style. Big guns David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith , Marnus Labuschagne , Glenn Maxwell and later on Travis Head (who joined the team after missing five matches) came out all guns blazing . And the Aussies were back on track . The spin attack was handled well by Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell. While Cummins led the pace with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Josh Inglis was superb replacement for the struggling Alex Carey. With Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green on the bench ( both were rotated though in the tournament) Aussies looked a formidable side .
Shane Watson heaps praise on Pat Cummins and Australia for stunning #CWC23 triumph 💪
More 👉 https://t.co/vydMJmZvSo pic.twitter.com/TpqxNrwNx5
— ICC (@ICC) November 21, 2023
Cummins was stand out as skipper in the tournament all the way . He made the right choice while picking his playing eleven and was bold enough in toss decisions after winning ( like one in the final choosing to bowl after winning the toss).
It was not all Captaincy and bowling that Cummins shone in this ICC Men’s 2023 World Cup in India . With the bat too , Cummins showed admirable match sense and maturity . In a high – scoring encounter against Tasman rivals rivals New Zealand Australia posted a mammoth 388 in 49. 2. New Zealand took the fight to the Aussies and nearly pulled off a thriller . But lost by 5 runs reaching 383/ 9. Cummins in towards the end played a scintillating cameo . A blistering 14 ball 37 ( 2 fours, 4 sixes). These runs at the end proved priceless and worth gold.
And the onslaught the gritty side of Cummins batting came to the fore twice later on. Australia were staring at defeat against Afghanistan chasing 292 and Cummins joined Glenn Maxwell at score of 91/ 7 . As Glenn Maxwell played the inning of the world cup an astonishing 201 off 128 balls ( 21 fours, 10 sixes), Cummins on the other hand refused the Afghans take another wicket as he stood firm like wall. Batting superbly according match situation, he rotated the strike to allow Maxwell get the job done. Maxwell was devastating by Cummins was rock – sold in his unbeaten 12 off 68 balls with one four. Australia reaching 293/ 7 in 46.5 overs. Maxwell’s double ton made headlines so too was the sheer determination of Cummins. The duo posted a record 202 run- stand or the 8th wicket
In the semi- finals against South Africa too Cummins kept his nerve in a tricky chase of a modest target of 212 with calm and assurance written all over. Aussies lost wickets bit too many Pat Cummins stood tall with his unbeaten 14 ( 29 balls, 2 fours) along with pace Mitchell Starc not out 16 ( 38 balls, 2 fours) saw the Aussies home.
In the much awaited final against unbeaten India , Cummins played the mind games well and indicated he had plans in place to silence the 1, 20, 000 crowd at the Narendra Modi stadium. Not many believed him. But he prove d them wrong . He won the toss chose to bowl and his bowlers including himself bowled to a plan and backed by spectacular ground fielding. Aussies had India on the back-foot. And the crowd shell- shocked. Cummins was brilliant with ball 2/ 34 in his ten overs . He bowled ripper of a delivery to get rid of in- from Shreyas Iyer. Iyer was clueless Cummins delivery took his edge wen to the wicket- keeper. Then Cummins had the big gun – Virat Kohli , playing on to his stumps. With support from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Aussies were all over India and the hosts were bowled out for 240. Cummins got his filed placings absolutely right and made India struggle hard for runs and fours.
Picture : ICC / X
It was left to sensational Travis Head 137 ( 120 balls 15 fours, 4 sixes) and Marnus Marnus Labuschagne not out 58 ( 110 balls, 4 fours) and fittingly Glenn maxwell hitting the winning 2 runs to seal Australia’s sixth trophy. And the sheer joy in Cummins face when he liften the trophy surrounded by team-mates said it all. The win established and raised his stature as a leader.
Cummins now joins the elite list of Aussie captains to lift an ICC trophy joining – Allan Border ( 1987) , Steve Waugh ( 1999), Ricky Ponting ( 2003, 2007), Michael Clarke ( 2015), Aaron Finch 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.
So given the way Pat Cummins has captained Australia with so much clam assurance, grit and determination. It would be fair to rightly name him as the the new ‘Mr Cool’ of World Cricket. I doubt there will be any challengers or questions to the given adage.
