CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

The Indian cricket team came very close to ending their decade-long wait for an ICC trophy while off the field, massive financial gains were made, with even more yet to come still

- Vivek Krishnan

For the Indian men's cricket team, another year has passed without a major trophy. It's now been a decade since India won an International Cricket Council (ICC) title, the last coming under MS Dhoni's leadership at the Champions Trophy in England in 2013.

It was a case of close but no cigar on two occasions for India in 2023. In both instances, Travis Head delivered the decisive punch as the Australians built on their title-winning aura. In the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in London in June, Head's 174-ball 163 in the first innings paved the way for a 209-run victory. Five months later, in front of a whirl of blue in Ahmedabad, the lefthanded batter again spoiled India's party, smashing 137 off 120 deliveries in a run chase of 241 as the Aussies held aloft the ODI World Cup crown for the sixth time in their illustrious history.

The World Cup heartbreak must have particularly rankled, for India played nearly flawless cricket in all but one match through six weeks of crisscrossing the country. Sharma's teary eyes at the end of the final revealed his disappointment as his quest to add an ODI World Cup title still the pinnacle in his view to his distinguished career is now likely to remain unfulfilled.

While India may not have assessed the conditions for the final as well as their counterparts clad in yellow did, their campaign was laced with many highs.