‘We lost the game on the first day itself’ – BCCI President Roger Binny reflects on India’s defeat in WTC 2023 Final

Roger Binny, Steve Smith and Travis Head. (Photo Source : Twitter)

President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Roger Binny reflected on team India’s loss in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. The Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a crushing 209-run defeat on Day 5 (June 11) of the one-off Test at The Oval in London. Notably, this was India’s second straight loss in the WTC final.

After being invited to bat first, Australia scored a mammoth 469 in the first innings, courtesy of Travis Head (163 off 174) and Steve Smith’s (121 off 268) magnificent centuries. Meanwhile, for India, Mohammed Siraj claimed a four-wicket haul, reaching a landmark of 50 wickets in the longest format of the game.

India scored only 296 in their first innings, thanks to Ajinkya Rahane’s (89 off 129) crucial knock. Meanwhile, Australia declared their second innings at 270/8 on Saturday, June 10. However, India were bundled out for 234 on the final day while chasing a 444-run target.

Sharing his views on India’s loss, Roger Binny said that Rohit and Co. lost the match on the opening day itself. He also mentioned Head and Smith’s knocks, which turned the tables in the game. He added that if that partnership was removed, the game would have been completely even.

“We lost the game on the first day itself. The big partnership that Australia put on was what really turned the tables in this game. Otherwise, the game was even. If you take away that partnership, the game was totally even,” Binny was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The former cricketer then urged team India to remain optimistic and focus on the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to be played between October and November this year in India.

“We have something bigger coming up in the future so we have to keep our spirits up and make sure that we do well in the World Cup and it’s at home. So that is important,” he added.