India's dreams of winning a third World Cup was shattered by a relentless Australia in the final on Sunday in Ahmedabad.

India were all out for 240, with Australia starving them out after they shot off 80 runs in the first 10 overs.

While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami then got the hosts off to a promising start in their defence, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne shut the door with 192-run stand. Head scored 137 in 120 balls while Labuschagne was unbeaten on 58 off 110 and Australia took the match by six wickets.

India had been the dominant side and seen as the outright favourites in the lead-up to the match. They had won all of the games they had played up until the final by significant margins and this included a six-wicket win over Australia in their tournament opener. Australia, on the other hand, started the tournament with two big defeats and then went on to win every match after that.

When Australia won the match, followed by scenes of contrasting emotions. While the elated Australians ran on to the pitch to hug the two batters who were jumping with joy, the shoulders of the Indian players slumped and they dragged themselves off their respective fielding positions. The players and team management were visibly dejected throughout the presentation ceremony and India batting great Sachin Tendulkar walked out and had a few words with them. Tendulkar was famously part of the last Indian team to have won the World Cup in 2011 and also a long time teammate in the Indian team of head coach Rahul Dravid.

Hard luck Team India, just one bad day in an otherwise sterling tournament can be heartbreaking. I can imagine the agony of the players, fans and well-wishers and what they must be going through. Losses are a part of the sport but let us remember that this unit gave their all for us throughout the tournament, tweeted Sachin on X and also congratulated Australia on their win