World Cup Final: Australia defeat India to win record-extending sixth title

Australia skipper Pat Cummins opted to field after winning the toss, a decision that had a few scratching their heads initially but would turn out to be a masterstroke later

Opener Shubman Gill, for whom the Narendra Modi Stadium is a home venue in the IPL, was the first to depart, getting dismissed by Mitchell Starc on 4

Rohit Sharma once again took on the opposition bowlers head on, smashing 47 off 31 balls to help India collect 80 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first powerplay

Both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored fifties and added 67 for the fourth wicket, but could do little to keep the mounting pressure in check due to the lack of boundaries

Australia skipper Pat Cummins eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Kohli, inflicting a body blow on India’s hopes of posting a total in excess of 300

Starc led the way with a haul of 3/55 as Australia bowled India out for 240, well short of what the Indians would have had in mind at the end of the first powerplay

Mohammed Shami once again struck first among the Indian bowlers, getting David Warner caught by Kohli in the slip cordon to dismiss him for 7

Jasprit Bumrah would then strike twice in as many overs, getting rid of Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith as Australia were reduced to 47/3

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne came to Australia’s rescue with a match-winning 192-run stand that was cautious in the beginning, but would eventually take the game away from the Indians

Head starred in Australia’s victory with a magnificent 137 off 120 deliveries, collecting 15 fours and four sixes along the way

Thanks to Head’s heroics, Australia raced to the 241-run target with six wickets and seven overs to spare

Australia won the ICC World Cup for a record-extending sixth time, that too after losing their first two games

India had won all 10 matches leading to the final, but then lost the game that mattered to remain without an ICC trophy for more than a decade now