In a presentation that will go down in cricket history as the most awkward of all time, Australian captain Pat Cummins found himself in an unexpected solo spotlight after being presented with the World Cup trophy. The trophy was handed over by none other than India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles.
The peculiar moment unfolded as Modi and Marles, having jointly bestowed the trophy upon Cummins and posed for photographs, abruptly exited the stage, leaving the Australian captain standing alone. Cummins managed a somewhat awkward smile as he observed the leaders departing, patiently waiting for his teammates to join him. Eventually, the rest of the Australian team was allowed onto the stage, marking the official celebration of their World Cup victory. The incident sparked a significant reaction on social media, drawing attention to the unusual conclusion of the prestigious event.
The presentation, however, was not the only hiccup in the awards ceremony. It took place over an hour after Glenn Maxwell’s winning runs, with a considerable portion of the 90,000-strong crowd having already dispersed before the trophy exchange.
Australia secured its sixth title in men’s 50-over World Cups, triumphing for the second time in India. Travis Head earned the player of the match title for his crucial century, while Virat Kohli was honored as the player of the tournament.
Despite India entering the game undefeated, their fortunes took a turn during the batting innings, losing three quick wickets within the first 11 overs. Although they set a target of 241 for Australia, they couldn’t dismantle Head and Marnus Labuschagne’s formidable 192-run partnership until the Aussies needed just two runs to seal their victory.
