“Australia was better-planned team in WC final, India lost to better-planned game”: Irfan Pathan.

Australia clinched victory in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final, securing their sixth ODI World Cup title in a decisive match at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.

Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder and esteemed commentator, lauded Australia for their impeccable planning, attributing India’s defeat to a team that executed a superior game plan. Despite posting a modest total of 240 runs in the final, India struggled to contain Travis Head’s aggressive batting performance, which included a remarkable century. Marnus Labuschagne’s resilient half-century further fortified the Australian innings, ultimately leading them to a comfortable six-wicket triumph.

Pathan said “I think India lost to a better-planned game. Australia was a better-planned team. The way they planned, starting from the toss, I don’t think any other team could come close to that kind of planning.”

Pathan emphasized that India missed a strategic opportunity by not capitalizing on the vulnerability of Australia’s part-time bowlers. Additionally, he underscored concerns about India’s batting depth, pointing out issues that impacted their performance in the final.

“It was tough because the Indian team was looking behind, absolutely looking behind Jadeja and Surya Kumar Yadav. And when KL Rahul got out, I think that was the time when India couldn’t just go ahead. I thought as soon as they knew that there was no cover, no mid-off, they could have used their feet a bit more and tried to rotate the strike and not allow guys like Travis Head to bowl those two overs crucially in between. Mitchell Marsh bowled one over as well,”