‘I was shell-shocked to see their tactics……’ – Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on Australia’s tactical masterclass in ODI World Cup 2023 final vs India

Team India suffered a shocking six-wicket loss over Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final on November 19 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, Rohit Sharma and Co. have failed to use their tactics, which easily helped Australia win the game. However, after the crushing loss, India’s star cricketer, Ravichandran Ashwin, has opened up about the pragmatic and tactical skills used by the Men in Yellow in the ODI World Cup 2023 final game against the hosts.

India’s off-spinner reveals that he had the talk with the Australia selector during the mid-inning break and how he pushed his side to opt to field first against the hosts in the final game. Moreover, the great all-rounder revealed that Australia was planning to bat under lights owing to their experience at the stadium during the IPL and bilateral series.

“Australia totally deceived me personally, I was checking whether the pitch is disintegrating at mid-innings and I met George Bailey. I asked him why didn’t you guys bat first like you always do – he answered back, ‘we have played IPL & Bilateral series here a lot – red soil disintegrates but not black soil & it gets better under lights – no impact on dew on red soil but black soil has good turn in afternoon & then it will be a concrete in night.’ I was flabbergasted after that,”  Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Australia were tactically outstanding in the final: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin feels the Men in Yellow were outstanding in the final game. Moreover, the 37-year-old cricketer reveals that he was totally shocked after glancing at Australia’s plans for the final game. In addition, the Chennai-born cricketer also heaps praise on Pat Cummins.

“Australia were tactically outstanding in the final. I was shell-shocked to see their tactics during the final. Cummins was struggling in ODIs leading to the World Cup, but the last 4-5 matches, almost 50 percent of his balls were cutters,” he added further.