NEW DELHI:
Travis Head
emerged as the hero of the 2023
ODI World Cup final
for Australia, single-handedly thwarting India's quest for the title. His remarkable 137 off 120 balls made him only the third Australian, following Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, to achieve a century in a World Cup final.
Before his batting heroics, Head had already significantly contributed to India's struggle to reach 240 on a slow pitch in Ahmedabad.
In the 10th over of India's innings, amidst a packed and boisterous Ahmedabad crowd, Head executed one of the tournament's most spectacular catches to dismiss India's captain, Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, who had been in scintillating form at the top of the order, had already taken down Josh Hazlewood, a crucial Australian bowler. He then targeted Glenn Maxwell, hitting consecutive sixes and a boundary in the powerplay's final over. However, his aggressive approach proved to be his undoing when he attempted a third big shot. The ball took a leading edge off the turned bat and soared high into the air. Head, positioned at cover, sprinted back, tracked the ball, and completed a stunning catch with a backward dive.
This moment proved pivotal in the match, as Rohit's departure had a profound impact on India's batting performance.
Following his dismissal, India managed only four more fours in the next 40 overs, the lowest in a completed 50-over innings in over a decade. This highlighted the significance of Rohit's wicket in the overall context of the match.
During the post-match ceremony, Head acknowledged Rohit Sharma's unfortunate situation while discussing this remarkable catch. "I feel for Rohit, he was batting so well and looked set for a big one. But that's the nature of the game, sometimes you get a bit of luck going your way. I'm just glad I could contribute to the team's success," Head said.
“He’s (Rohit Sharma) probably the unluckiest man in the world,” Head said in the post-match ceremony about the Indian captain.
“Again, it’s (fielding) something that I worked hard on. I couldn’t imagine getting a hundred, couldn’t probably imagine holding onto that one. Was great to hold on to that catch,” Head further added.
However, Rohit had different intentions as the 2024 T20 World Cup approached, jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies.
Under his captaincy, India emerged victorious, clinching the championship title by overcoming South Africa in a thrilling final showdown at Barbados.
During the Super 8s stage of the tournament, India faced off against Australia, seeking revenge for their loss in the ICC ODI World Cup. They defeated the Aussies by a margin of 24 runs.
English (US) ·