Travis Head played a crucial role in Australia’s victory over India in the ODI Cricket World Cup final. The talented opener smashed 137 runs off 120 balls as Australia successfully chased down a 241-run target against India in just 43 overs. This win marked Australia’s sixth ODI Cricket World Cup title. Travis Head ended the tournament with an impressive tally of 329 runs in six matches, showcasing his all-around skills by contributing with the ball.

However, former Indian cricket team star Ajay Jadeja didn’t find it amusing when a fan on a YouTube live session asked him if Travis Head was a replica of Virender Sehwag. Responding to the question about hand-eye coordination, a strike rate over 100 in tests, and a penchant for hitting fours and sixes, Jadeja dismissed the comparison as a ‘behuda sawaal’ (non-sensical question). He emphasized the lack of logic in comparing Virender Sehwag with Travis Head, citing their different batting styles and handedness.

Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting praised Travis for his outstanding performance, declaring him as one of the top three or four all-format players globally. Ponting highlighted Head’s exceptional Test record and acknowledged his unorthodox yet effective approach, especially in one-day cricket.

Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins expressed admiration for the explosive opener, commending his ability to apply pressure on the opponents. Cummins acknowledged the risk-taking attitude that contributed to winning the tournament and praised Travis Head’s positive and joyful approach to the game.

In the match, India managed a total of 240 runs in 50 overs. Despite a challenging batting surface, skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul made significant contributions. Mitchell Starc with figures of 3/55 led Australia’s bowling attack, well-supported by Cummins and Hazlewood, who took two wickets each. Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell also chipped in with a wicket each.

While chasing 241, India had Australia struggling at 47/3. However, powerful performances from Travis Head (137 in 120 balls, with 15 fours and four sixes) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 in 110 balls, with four boundaries) guided Australia to a convincing six-wicket win, leaving the Indian team without answers.

Australia’s Mitchell Marsh isn’t sure if Travis Head, the Man of the Match in the World Cup final, will play in the opening T20I against India. Some Aussie players returned home for rest before the Test series against Pakistan, but others, like Head, stayed for the T20Is. Marsh praised Head but expressed uncertainty about his fitness for the first game.

“Heady was in the votes. I’m not sure he’ll be playing that game. If he does, it’ll be a miracle,” Marsh said.

Talking about his plans before the Pakistan series, Marsh mentioned, “Tools down for a while. Get home, see the family, relax, and get ready for the summer. Playing Pakistan is always exciting.”

Notable players like Warner, Smith, Cummins, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav will be absent from both teams in the series.

India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk),  Dubey,Ishan Kishan,  Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna,Washington Sundar,Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Shivam, Arshdeep Singh.

Australia T20 squad: Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Aaron Hardie,Sean Abbott, Travis Head, Matt Short, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Adam Zampa,Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis.

Australia’s cricket legend Ricky Ponting, captain of the 2003 World Cup-winning team, expressed his admiration for Travis Head’s exceptional skills, hailing him as one of the world’s premier all-format players. Head’s impressive left-handed batting style, especially during his exhilarating knock of 137 against India, left Ponting impressed. In an interview with Sky Sports, Ponting remarked:

“Travis is emerging as one of the three or four best all-format players in the world.”

Australia’s skipper, Pat Cummins, commended Travis Head’s fearless approach, praising his ability to apply pressure on opponents. In order to win the tournament, Cummins stressed the value of taking chances. Cummins claims that Head, who plays with a smile and puts pressure on the opponent, epitomizes the kind of mentality he looks for in a cricket squad. Cummins expressed his joy for Head’s success, stating,

“He takes the game on, he plays with a smile, he just puts the pressure right back onto the opposition, and he’s just great fun to be around.”

In the most recent ODI match, India posted a score of 240 in 50 overs, with key contributions from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Australia’s bowlers, especially Mitchell Starc, proved just how good they are; Cummins and Hazlewood also put on impressive shows. Chasing 241, India initially had the Australians at 47/3, but Travis Head’s outstanding 137 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 58 guided Australia to a convincing six-wicket victory.

With the ODI series concluded, the World Cup finalists are gearing up for a thrilling five-match T20I series, set to kick off in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

In pursuit of a challenging 241, Australia initially stumbled at 47-3 before Head’s stellar performance, marking his second century in the tournament, guided the team to victory with seven overs to spare.

Head’s exceptional innings, adorned with 15 boundaries and four sixes in his 120-ball stay, formed a crucial 192-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, who remained unbeaten at 58. This pivotal stand shattered India’s dominance, ending their streak of 10 consecutive unbeaten matches in the tournament.

Following Head’s departure, Glenn Maxwell’s final strokes secured the win, igniting exuberant celebrations within the Australian camp.

India’s hopes of breaking their trophy dry spell since the 2013 Champions Trophy faded as Head’s momentum, particularly alongside Labuschagne, thwarted their efforts.

Head’s century marked the seventh in a World Cup final and the third by an Australian, following the remarkable performances of Ricky Ponting (140 not out against India in 2003) and Adam Gilchrist (149 versus Sri Lanka in 2007).

Australia’s triumph was set up by their bowlers, with Mitchell Starc (3-55) and Pat Cummins (2-34) dismantling the Indian lineup, restricting them to 240.

While India made an initial breakthrough when Mohammed Shami dismissed David Warner for seven, Jasprit Bumrah’s quick double strike, removing Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith, injected energy into their pursuit.

However, Head’s resilience, supported by Labuschagne, thwarted India’s attack despite Captain Rohit Sharma’s strategic bowler rotations in search of breakthroughs.

Head’s journey to the World Cup victory was almost thwarted by a fractured hand in September, but Australia retained him in the squad until his recovery. His impactful performances, including a match-winning century against New Zealand and a crucial 62 in the semifinals against South Africa, validated his indispensability to the team.

This marked Head’s second time inflicting damage on India this year, following his crucial 163 in Australia’s World Test Championship victory at the Oval in June.

His century reached in 95 balls, and earned applause from the Australian dressing room, making him the seventh batter and the third Australian to achieve a century in a World Cup final, joining the ranks of compatriots Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist.

Australia’s decision to field first paid off, with Cummins’ disciplined leadership in bowling supported by exceptional fielding. Despite promising innings from Virat Kohli (54) and KL Rahul (66), the slow and dry pitch favored the bowlers.

Head’s breathtaking catch at cover point dismissed Rohit Sharma, while Cummins’ delivery ended Kohli’s innings, leaving the crowd of 92,453 fans, as well as the home team, with an unforgettable day.