Unpredictability is sport’s elixir and lends an endearing quality to it

India lost World Cup final to Australia, despite having the best team in the tournament. They were outplayed in the field, with Australia seizing every decisive moment. India's defensive shell and lack of a significant alliance cost them the game. Despite the loss, Rohit, Kohli, and Mohammed Shami were the tournament's top run-getter, wicket-taker, and second-highest run-getter, respectively. Sport is unpredictable, and India learnt that the hard way.

Until Sunday night, the Men in Blue offered triumphant stories and sunshine moments. They were the best team in the World Cup by a distance, defeating all opponents in the round-robin league phase and quelling New Zealand in the semifinal. To win 10 games on the trot is a remarkable feat and Rohit Sharma’s men deserve respect.

However, sport is never about the fairytale finish. Sir Don Bradman was dismissed on a duck in his last innings. Many leading stars have hobbled away with injuries. Sport at the highest level is both exhilarating and soul-numbing.

India again learnt it the hard way after losing the World Cup final by six wickets to Australia here at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

For almost the entirety of its campaign, India set the tone in the PowerPlay segment, both in batting and bowling. Rohit’s explosive willow and the rollicking spells of Jasprit Bumrah and the two Mohammeds — Shami and Siraj — always meant that the opposition was gasping right from the first ball.

The climax pitted the two best squads and on the day it mattered, Australia prevailed. Cricketing glory is often linked to a certain rhythm, at times labelled as momentum or quantified as being in the zone, and on Sunday the men from Down Under owned these nuggets.

Every decisive small moment that had a big impact was seized by Australia. It started first with fielding as almost the entire carpet was manned and Travis Head lent the impetus with his outstanding catch to stifle Rohit’s knock.

Later in the night, he returned to score an incredible 137 that put to shade India’s laboured 240 in 50 overs. Australia also bowled well with tight lines that dried up India’s boundaries.