THE HEADLINE

After impressive show by bowlers, Australian opener Head takes charge of proceedings to kill India's hopes in front of 92,000-plus fans and help team clinch yet another World Cup crown

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

OUT of all the things India had done at this World Cup, the thing that spread the most joy was the way they picked up the wickets. Batters were almost always uneasy. Stumps were flattened. They managed to catch opposition out cold in swinging conditions. Accomplished middle-orders were made to look like raffle winners. Experienced matchwinners in the top five lasted fewer than six balls.

It was ironic, then, that the last wicket they picked up at the World Cup saw no celebration from the players. There was a cursory handshake between a few of them but the faces were glum. They had long given up the ghost. The collective dreams of 15 men had evaporated into the distance long before nightfall when Travis Head's pull was pouched by Shubman Gill off Mohammed Siraj.

The damage had already been done. Head, who was a doubt for this event, survived the early spell before unleashing a counterpunch for the ages. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Across six weeks and 10 games, this Indian team had been pure theatre. Fifteen men had reduced sport to its barest but truest essence. Fun. Watching cricket was cool. They had made it that way. In this journey of theirs which began in Chennai, they had won over scores of fans, including casuals. 50-over cricket was allegedly on life support when the World Cup began. When the final had rolled around, they had infused it with so much oxygen the format was alive and kicking (even if temporary).

And, so, on to the 11th.