PM Modi Hugs Shami, Motivates Others in Indian Dressing Room After World Cup Final Loss

So close yet so far: this was the tale of last night for Team India as the hosts crumbled to the mighty Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Final, losing out on their opportunity to clinch a third World Cup trophy for the country.

Despite their eventual loss, their valiant effort can’t go unnoticed.

READ: When the Invincible Fell to the Inevitable Fate

After a disappointing first innings where they managed to put up only 240 runs on the board, the Men in Blue came back strong with the ball initially. Bumrah and Shami managed to pile the pressure on the Australians as before they knew it, they were down 47/3 chasing a target of 241.

But, it was then the swashbuckling 137-run inning of Travis Head coupled with a composed and crucial supporting inning of 57 runs off 109 balls from Marnus Labuschagne that drained the life out of the bowling attack and put the Indians to rest, despite their best attempts to strike again.

READ: The ‘Head’ache That Cost India Two World Titles Inside Six Months

But, as aforementioned, the grit and effort cannot go unnoticed, and it did not, as PM Narendra Modi took to the Indian team’s dressing room after their final encounter to offer his support to the Men in Blue.

Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the moment for the world to see.

“We had a great tournament but we ended up short yesterday. We are all heartbroken but the support of our people is keeping us going. PM @narendramodi’s visit to the dressing room yesterday was special and very motivating,” read Jadeja’s post on X.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Shami also shared in which he could be seen getting consoled by PM Modi. The right-arm quick ended the ODI World Cup 2023 as the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets.

“Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM @narendramodi for specially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back,” Shami wrote.

The disappontment though, understandably,  ran deep within the ranks of the Indian team itself, as multiple players took to social media to expound their thoughts on the loss the day after.

Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who underwent a resurgence in ODI form in the past World Cup by notching three consecutive centuries in the World Cup prior to the final, also shared a glimpse into the heartbreak that he was undergoing.

Despite his tremendous form coming into the final, Iyer couldn’t find a way to get going against the fiery Aussie bowling yesterday and succumbed to a stunning swinger from Australia skipper Pat Cummins for a mere 4 runs.

READ: IND vs AUS: Netizens React After India’s Below-par Batting in the World Cup Final Against Australia

Yet another player who took to social media to share his thoughts on the loss was veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin, who was not a part of India’s 2019 WC campaign, was allocated more of a leadership role and saw very less game time this tournament, playing only the first match of the tournament against the Aussies.

There were speculations of Ashwin being brought back into the squad just for the final, given the experience he possesses playing against the Aussies, but the Men in Blue refrained from doing so and played with the same squad that had acquired them their spot in the final.

But alas, with a comprehensive six-wicket win in the final, Australia broke Indian hearts to add a sixth World Cup title to their cabinet, and deprive the hosts from scripting a historic winning campaign.