OTD AUS vs IND 2003: Australia retained their title with an efficient demolition of India

March 23, 2003 – a day a lot of Indian cricket fans will want to wipe from their memories. Today marks the 23-year anniversary of Australia’s emphatic victory over India at the 2003 ICC World Cup final in Johannesburg to win back-t0-back world titles. 

Both sides entered the showpiece final on the back of some excellent form. Australia came in unbeaten while India were playing in only their second ever World Cup final, having lost just once all tournament. The Men in Blue won the toss and captain Sourav Ganguly put Australia into bat on one of the best batting wickets. Australia made full use of the conditions in front of them from the get go.

Opener Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden made a great start to the proceedings. When the first wicket eventually fell, that of Gilchrist, Australia were already 105 from just 14 overs. Following the loss of the first wicket, Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting walked and played arguably one of the greatest innings ever in a World Cup final to this date. The right-handed batter smashed an unbeaten 140 off just 121 balls, hitting four boundaries and eight sixes to take his side to 359 for 2 from their 50 overs. He was accompanied brilliantly by Damien Martyn who overcame a broken finger to score an unbeaten 88 with the pair putting 234 runs on the board for the second wicket. 

A deflated Indian side had a mountain to climb to win their second World Cup title. The morale of the team and the fans would reach an all-time low in the very first over of their run chase when Glenn McGrath got the wicket of Player of the Tournament, Sachin Tendulkar. India would never recover from this setback, and barring Virender Sehwag’s fighting 82 and Rahul Dravid’s 47, no other batter made any significant contribution as India fell to a heavy 125-run defeat. For Australia, McGrath was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets while both Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds chipped in with two apiece. 

Ponting’s side, meanwhile, would not stop at just two World Cups. Four years later in Barbados, they would go on to beat Sri Lanka in yet another final to win their third consecutive trophy. India, on the other hand, would have to wait eight more years to win the coveted prize, winning the title on home soil in 2011. 

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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