Only a few journalists were present at the airport to speak to the captain who gave Australia their sixth World Cup title.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FOR those who live in the Indian subcontinent, it was something unbelievable. The World Cup-winning Australian squad returned home from India on Wednesday (22) morning after defeating the hosts by six wickets in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday (19) but not many were present at the airport to receive them.
A video of captain Pat Cummins, who became the fifth man to lead Australia to a 50-over World Cup win, receiving almost zero reception after landing at the airport left many netizens bemused. A few journalists were present to take pictures of the winners besides the common passengers.
Pat Cummins back on home soil as a World Cup winning captain #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/0r7MhPmwXZ
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) November 21, 2023
Australia clinched their sixth World Cup title, outsmarting a strong Indian side, which was unbeaten till the title clash, leaving billions of hearts shattered.
Cummins, who is the first bowler to lead Australia to the 50-over World Cup, reflected on the achievement and said the excitement of becoming the new champions was yet to fully sink in.
“I think we’ll be smiling for a fair while. We are still buzzing. Every half an hour so, you kind of remember that you just won a World Cup and get excited all over again,” the 30-year-old cricketer from Sydney told the press. “You only get one chance every four years and especially playing somewhere like India, it’s hard.”
“To be pitted up against the rest of the world and come away with a medal, it doesn’t get any better than that. Adding to that an away Ashes series, a World Test Championship, we couldn’t have planned for much better,” he further said.
Cummins, who picked the all-important wicket of Virat Kohli in the final besides that of Shreyas Iyer, was praised for displaying brilliant captaincy in the final. He won the toss and asked the hosts to bat and restricted them to 240 on a wicket that eased out as the game progressed.
While some members of the Australian squad have returned home, a few stayed back for the five-match T20 series beginning Thursday (23).
Here are some reactions to the lack of reception for the Australian players after they reached home:
No Drama, no jingoism, no political leader present to take the credit, no hero worship, no one to carry his luggage, no one going mad in streets.
This is Pat Cummins and Australian people after winning the World Cup 2023.
So much to learn from them.pic.twitter.com/u30cB6dBOW
— Dr Nimo Yadav (@niiravmodi) November 22, 2023
This is Pat Cummins' welcome at airport. ? Looks like cricket World Cup wasn't telecasted in Australia. pic.twitter.com/0y4wihHV7A
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 22, 2023
Seems the Australians don't even care for the Cricket World Cup. Such a lukewarm welcome for winning captain Pat Cummins.
India hota to even Prasidh Krishna ka welcome dhol nagado sang hota.
?pic.twitter.com/nsqSChwP0q— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) November 22, 2023