India vs Australia, World Cup final: Of the sinking dread in 2003 and the searing belief in 2023 | Cricket-world-cup News

What do you remember the most as a sports fan? The highest of highs top the l. The day your team won a World Cup, the week when your favourite athlete triumphed at the Olympics, the moment your childhood hero scaled a peak that was previously thought unachievable. Those always stay with you.But so do moments of heartbreak. Devastating defeats that stab harder or fester like an open wound. Snatches of losses that surface in the mind quite unannounced forcing you to gulp the sorrow down in a crowd. That inevitable drubbing the arch rival that haunts recesses of memory needing an elaborate overwrite.
The day your team fell agonisingly short of a major achievement, those seconds when your favourite athlete walked past a trophy with longing eyes, the moment your childhood hero announced a retirement that you didn’t see coming.

For many growing up in the 90s following the Indian cricket team, March 23, 2003 would most definitely hurt like a raw scab. It is a day that started with hope, however misplaced it might have been, but ended in a wave of disappointment. Tears were shed. For many in their teens, it might well have been the first true heartbreak. Defeat would have been palatable but the manner of it was hard to digest.
For this writer, who tuned into watch the final after a month of juggling between board examination tension and enjoying moments of India’s run to the final sneakily, that night was traumatic. It was a defeat that opened the floodgates like never before.
Fast forward 20 years and here we are again. It’s India vs Australia once more in the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The dread of 2003
The moment Australia completed their win against South Africa at Eden Gardens, recollections about that day in 2003 were unavoidable.
About the dread we felt when Zaheer Khan bowled that bizarre first over after Sourav Ganguly opted to field. About the intimidation that followed when Ricky Ponting went berserk (and the spring theories about his bat that would soon follow). About the leg before decision that wasn’t given when Dinesh Mongia seemed to have got a breakthrough against Ponting (Ever wonder what DRS would have to say about that?).

About the sudden rush of adrenaline we felt when Sachin Tendulkar hit a four off Glenn McGrath in the first over. Dare we hope? Dare we dream?
About the collective sinking of hearts around the country when he mishit one and McGrath dismissed him immediately after. About the glimmer of hope Virender Sehwag’s knock and the possibility of rain provided.
And, ultimately, about the moment Darren Lehmann caught Zaheer Khan and the thrashing was complete at the hands of that era’s most dominant cricket team.
Damn, those Aussies were annoyingly good weren’t they?
The hope of 2023
Now, here we are in 2023. Ahead of Rohit Sharma and Co’s date with destiny, the dread of that Johannesburg heartbreak perhaps still remains for many. 2011 World Cup was grand, but a crack at Australia in the finals is the real redemption arc for a nation that came to dread yellow. And, in only the second title clash between these two multiple champions of the tournament, the tables might just have turned.
Back in 2003, India stumbled at the start of the tournament, losing their second match against Australia after batting first and posting a low score. Now, Australia started off their campaign with two defeats, one of them while posting a low score while batting first against India.
Back in 2003, Australia were the undoubtable team to beat and it was no surprise to see them in the final. Now, the five-time champions have had to overcome a fair few hurdles and could have easily lost their way earlier if not for a few hes.Most Read
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Back in 2003, sure, India had three good pacers who stood up during the tournament but Australia had the new-ball attack that was the envy of the world in Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. Now, how many teams would give anything to have the combined quality of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj?
And finally, back in 2003, India managed to turn their tournament around to make it to the final on the back of eight straight wins while Australia entered the final on the back of being unbeaten throughout – on a 10-match win streak. Now, India have bulldozed their way to the summit clash in Ahmedabad with 10 wins on the trot, while Australia have put together a 8-match win streak after losing their first two games.

Come Sunday, there is no guarantee that the result will be different. Those who lived through that March day 20 years back, will always carry the trauma Ponting and Co inflicted on impressionable minds. Deep down, they will still carry some amount of anxiety left over from that defeat. They will have smiled knowingly when this Australian team was doubted some at an ODI World Cup of all events. They always turn it up at this event, don’t they?

But a new generation of Indian fans will start the day with more than just hope. They will believe they are backing the best side in the tournament some dance. They will trust in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s batting form, shored up a strong support cast. They will bustle with anticipation about the Indian bowling attack’s collective strength. They will know that this Australian side is beatable. Belief, is a good thing. Maybe the best of things.