"India Was The Best Team In World Cup" - Irfan Pathan's Bold Remark

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has claimed Team India were the best team of the recently-concluded ICC World Cup 2023 despite losing the final. Team India’s dream run in the ODI World Cup came to an end with a heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India had stormed into the final after winning all of their nine league games before inflicting a 70-run defeat on New Zealand in the semifinal. Before the semifinal, not a single team had managed to touch the 300-run mark against India. In a competition where teams scored runs for fun, India’s bowlers blew the opposition away.

The likes of Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand could not even reach 200 runs against the Men in Blue while South Africa and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 83 and 55 runs respectively. Unsurprisingly, India entered the final as the firm favorites and were widely expected to win the title decider. However, Australia thoroughly dominated the contest and won the game by 6 wickets.

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Bowling first, Australia bowled out India for a modest total of 240 runs despite half-centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. In reply, Australia were reeling at 47 for 3 before a 192-run stand between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne rescued them. Head scored 137 runs while Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 58 as Australia crossed the finishing line in the 43rd over.

Irfan Pathan on India’s loss in World Cup final:

Despite the heartbreaking loss in the final, Team India are receiving praise from all around for the entertaining brand of cricket they played in the World Cup. While Australia won the World Cup, many experts are still calling India the best team of the tournament and Irfan Pathan holds a similar view too.

Writing in his column for the Indian Express, the former India allrounder stated that the team did not lose to a better team but to a better-planned team. He credited Australia for making better plans than India and making the most of the conditions.

“India had a great World Cup campaign and the team looked invincible. Right through the tournament, everyone in the country felt this was a team that they could rely on to win the trophy we have been seeking for 12 years. Everything was working for India and I firmly believe we didn’t lose to a better team in the final,” wrote Irfan Pathan.

“We lost to a better-planned team. They made better plans than us for the conditions, which were executed well, and we lost against that, rather than individuals.

“Having played in an era where Australia were the dominant force, I got a similar vibe from this Indian team. Why? Because it made sure that wherever it goes, it wins. Australia became world champions in 1999 and stayed so till 2011.

“Wherever they went, they won. We hold the 2001 Test series close to our hearts because, in our own backyard, we had to play outstandingly well to defeat Australia. They could take on any team in any conditions. This Indian team was the same through the World Cup,” he added.

Irfan Pathan further credited Australia for coming up with better plans, but reiterated that India were the best team in the competition.

“For the first time at the World Cup, they threw our plans into disarray and we couldn’t counter theirs. As we lost wickets, we kept getting stuck and before we knew it, we were in deep trouble. So due credit to Australia for coming up with better plans on the day, but if you ask me, India was definitely the best team in the World Cup.”