Srinagar: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said that India lost World Cup 2023 final against Australia in Ahmedabad due to overconfidence on the back of their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
India went into the final vs Australia after having won 10 straight matches in the tournament. India lost by six wickets against Australia with hosts getting outplayed both in batting and bowling.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi felt that the loss was down to overconfidence.
“Jab Aap Continue Game Jeete Ja Rahe Ho Toh Overconfidence Bhi Zyada Ho Jati Hai.Toh Woh Cheez Aapko Marwah Deti Hai (When you have won all the games continuously, the ‘overconfidence’ is too much. So, this could lead to their downfall),” Shahid Afridi said on Samaa Tv while giving example of Shreyas Iyer shot selection.
Riding on a valiant partnership between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, also for the fourth-wicket, of 192 runs, Australia wrapped up the chase 241 runs with seven overs to spare.
“I think we all have experienced this at some point in our career. Whenever we hit a boundary or score a century or take a wicket, there is never any response from the (Indian) crowd. Yesterday when Travis Head scored a century, then the crowd was silent. Why? A sports-loving nation always appreciates every athlete and their efforts, but not getting that from the Indian crowd, which is a so-called-educated crowd was surprising. It was such a massive hundred, at least a few could have stood up to applaud. And the way the team’s body language kept droping, crowd had the same thing going,” Afridi said while commenting on crowd not applauding Century of Travis Head.