Australia captain Pat Cummins said that they saved their best for the last after winning the record-extending sixth World Cup title at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Cummins led the team from the front and picked the crucial wickets of in-form India batters Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer as the hosts were bundled out for 240.
Australia started the tournament on the wrong note with a couple of losses against India and South Africa but they peaked after that and didn’t stop after that.
Cummins said that the big match players stood up on the big occasion and saved their best when it mattered the most.
“I think we saved our best for last. Couple of big match players stood up, and we’re pretty stuffed. We’ve been batting first pretty much for the whole tournament, today we thought, it’s a good night to chase down, we thought it might actually get a little bit easier,” Cummins said in the post-match presentation.
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Cummins was also impressed with his bowling unit for restricting the in-form Indian team to 240 on a tricky batting surface.
“Everyone was pretty keen to get out there. It was a bit slower than I thought, and didn’t particularly spin probably as much as we thought either. Everyone adjusted pretty well and bowled some tight lines. On a slow wicket like that with variable bounce, we thought a couple of catchers on leg-side, you got to score in ODI cricket, so put a few catchers there and make them make a couple of decisions,” he added.
Cummins was highly of the players for their tremendous efforts on the field despite being an ageing side.
“The boys were fantastic. We’ve got an ageing side but everyone still throws themselves around in the game. Really chuffed with 240, probably anything under 300 really. I thought 300 might have been tough but achievable on that wicket. We were really happy with 240. I was one of those blocks with the heart fluttering. ” he added.
Cummins further hailed Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58*) as the duo shared a 192-run stand for the fourth wicket to help Australia clinch the title.
“Magnificent. Marnus walked in with a cool head and Travis does what he does. Really brave, he takes the game on, puts some pressure back on the bowlers and to do it on the biggest stage shows a lot of character. The selectors have backed him in even when he had a broken hand and the medical team to get him back. It was a big risk that we took and it paid off. Couldn’t be happier for Trav, he is a legend, we love him,” he added.
