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Australia regained the World Cup with a comprehensive six-wicket win against hosts and a shell-shocked India.

Winning the toss, visiting captain Pat Cummins asked India to bat first. The decision looked to be a good one as opener Shrubman Gill was out cheaply (4), to leave the score 30-1.

Despite that early breakthrough, Indian captain Rohit Sharma seemed like a man in a hurry and determined to take the fight to Australia.

It was an admirable approach until he was second man out, caught by a running, diving catch. At 76-2, the game was finely poised. With semi-final hero Shreyas Iyer getting dismissed cheaply, India had to change tact.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul had to consolidate and control what was starting to look like an Aussie onslaught. That was going until Kohli chopped on to his own wicket in unfortunate circumstances.

The dismissal of India’s star man, which left everyone who is watching the game in the stadium into silence, seemed to take the stuffing out of the home side.

From 148-4, the Indians were all out for 241. So Australia, who lost their first two games in this tournament, needed 242 runs to win their sixth world title.

Their quest couldn’t have got off to a worst start as David Warner was out for just seven. To add to the tension, Mitchell Marsh (15) and Steve Smith (4) were also back in the pavilion.

Australia were 47-3 and wobbling. Pat Cummins side did have more batting left in the shed, but if another wicket was to be lost at this point, India would have been over whelming favourites.

This final, was painted as fairy tale, where it could be the end of Virat Kohli’s ODI career as he might retire and allow younger talent to come through.

With how well the 35-year-old has been playing in the World Cup, it’s clear to see he has more to give.

Sunday’s result saw India lose for the first time in this World Cup, where Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58) put on 192 for the fifth wicket, to help their side get over the line with six-wickets intact.

it’s fair to say that King Kohli will want to avenge this six-wicket defeat. The win for Australia was truly against all odds.

What we can take from this is that Pat Cummins has developed into a good captain and all Travis Head is one fine player, when playing under-pressure.

Australia, we never learn I never learn, we need to stop writing you off!

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