ICC World Cup 2023: Unfortunately, on important days, we have not played to our ability, says head coach Rahul Dravid

Coach Rahul Dravid says he has not decided on future yet

AHMEDABAD: One could almost see the tears in the eyes of head coach Rahul Dravid, as hard as he tried to hide them. However, he was pragmatic enough to admit that his boys had lost to a better side. “Whenever we tried to build and accelerate, we lost a wicket and hence we could not push on,” was his assessment on why the team got only a middling 240 all out on a dry surface.

He also dismissed suggestions that the team tends to gets too timid in important games and hence loses. “I don’t think we were scared today. We were 80 for 2 after the first powerplay. Unfortunately, on important days, in important events, be it Adelaide (T20 WC semis), Oval (WTC final) or today in Ahmedabad, we have not played up to our ability which can happen in sport.”

1/10:World Cup Final: India vs Australia statistical highlights

Reuters

2/10:​Australia

<p>Australia recorded their sixth World Cup win by beating India in the final of the 2023 edition. They have title wins in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015. </p>Reuters

3/10:​India

<p>India became the third team whose only defeat in a World Cup edition coming in the final (10 wins) after New Zealand in 2015 (8 wins) and England in 1979 (4 wins). </p>Reuters

4/10:Travis Head

<p>Australia's Travis Head became the seventh batsman to score a hundred in a World Cup final and the second player to do so in a run-chase after Aravinda de Silva in 1996. </p>PTI

5/10:Man of the Match

<p>Travis Head became the fourth cricketer to be awarded Player of the Match in semifinal and final of a World Cup after Mohinder Amarnath in 1983, Aravinda de Silva in 1996 and Shane Warne in 1999. </p>Reuters

6/10:Elite club

<p>Travis Head's hundred was also the third by an Australian in a World Cup final after 140 not out by Ricky Ponting in 2003 and Adam Gilchrist's 149 four years later. </p>AP

7/10:Virat Kohli

<p>Virat Kohli's 765 runs is the most for any batter in the history of the World Cup. Kohli scored his runs at a stunning average of 95.62 and strike rate of 90.31 to hit three centuries and two fifties. </p>Reuters

8/10:Mohammed Shami

<p>With 24 wickets, Mohammed Shami finished as the highest wicket-taker in only seven matches despite missing the first four games of the league stage. </p>PTI

9/10:Josh Inglis

<p>Five dismissals by Josh Inglis is the most by a wicketkeeper in a World Cup final. </p>Reuters

10/10:Adam Zampa

<p>Adam Zampa became the second spinner to take 23 wickets in a World Cup edition after M Muralitharan in 2007. </p>Getty Images

World Cup Final: India vs Australia statistical highlights

He also refused to discuss what the future holds for him and whether he wants to take up the job to coach India again as his two-year contract ended on Sunday after the final. And if he does coach India again, will it only be for the red ball assignments? “I don’t think I have given it a thought to be honest. I will need more time to think about it.”

1/10:ODI World Cup: Best Playing XI

Getty Images

2/10:Rohit Sharma (Captain and opener)

<p>Rohit Sharma gave blazing starts throughout the tournament for the middle order to flourish. He also leads this side as he has led India from the front taking India to the final, becoming the first Indian captain to score more than 500 runs in a single World Cup edition.</p>Getty Images

3/10:​Rachin Ravindra

<p>Rachin Ravindra would be Rohit's batting partner up the order. With 578 runs from 10 matches that included 3 hundreds, Ravindra was one of the biggest reasons that the Kiwis reached the semifinals.</p>Getty Images

4/10:​Virat Kohli

<p>Who else at the pivotal No. 3 spot but none other than the great Virat Kohli - the highest run scorer in this World Cup, the first batsman to notch up more than 700 runs in a single World Cup edition, the first batsman to score 50 ODI hundreds.</p>Getty Images

5/10:​Daryl Mitchell

<p>Both Daryl Mitchell and Shreyas Iyer scored more than 500 runs with 2 hundreds in the 10 matches (before the final) but Mitchell scored more runs than Iyer who had the advantage of playing at home. </p>Getty Images

6/10:​KL Rahul (wicket-keeper)

<p>KL Rahul's only hundred in the tournament came against the Netherlands but his unbeaten 97 was worth its weight in gold as it came against Australia when the team was staring at defeat. </p>Getty Images

7/10:​Glenn Maxwell

<p>Glenn Maxwell notched up a 40-ball hundred against Netherlands in Delhi and then smashed the only double ton of the tournament - in Mumbai - when Afghanistan were about to register a huge upset against the five-time champions. </p>Getty Images

8/10:​Ravindra Jadeja

<p>With his fine left-arm spin, handy batting abilities and brilliant fielding, Ravindra Jadeja is the No. 7 batter of the side. In the 11 matches, Jadeja took 16 wickets and 7 catches in the tournament.</p>Getty Images

9/10:​Adam Zampa

<p>Adam Zampa took 23 wickets in the 11 matches Australia played and is at the second spot in the highest wicket-takers list in the tournament. Zampa's 3 four-wicket hauls ensured that the Aussies reached the final.</p>Getty Images

10/10:​Jasprit Bumrah

<p>In India's 11 matches, Jasprit Bumrah took 20 wickets that included one four-wicket haul. Bumrah's early breakthroughs with the new ball or his strikes with the old ball reversing trigger batting collapses in the opposition ranks.</p>Getty Images

ODI World Cup: Best Playing XI

Rahul Dravid also said there is a lot of sadness in the dressing room after the defeat, but he wanted the boys to savour a fine campaign after the dust settles. “There is hurt and sadness, but the sun will come up tomorrow. This is what sport teaches you. You experience great highs and crushing lows and must be prepared to accept both.”