Not Virat Kohli! Michael Vaughan names THIS 50-year-old as the real 'star' of World Cup

On Sunday, November 19, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australia won the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 final by a commanding six-wicket margin over India. The Australians achieved a record-breaking sixth ODI World Cup victory by skillfully chasing down the target of 241 runs in 43 overs, losing just four wickets in the process. Travis Head, the opening batsman, put on an outstanding display, hitting 137 runs off of 130 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes, good for a century. He was named Player of the Match.

3 things you need to know 

• Australia beat India in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final by 6 wickets 
• Travis Head was named the Player of the Match in the final 
• Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Tournament

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Michael Vaughan picked his star of the final 

In the India vs Australia final match, the Australian team put on a strong all-around performance. They had brilliant bowlers and excellent fielders who did all in their power to save every valuable run. Former England captain Michael Vaughan shocked a lot of people by drawing attention away from the Australian players in the summit match, even if the Pat Cummins side struggled in the initial stages of the tournament but went nine matches unbeaten (including the final) since two sloppy losses to India and South Africa. Rather, he identified a fifty-year-old Englishman as the World Cup final's most notable character.

During a panel discussion, Adam Gilchrist, a former Australian wicketkeeper, and Michael Vaughan were each given the task of choosing one player as their player of the match. Gilchrist went with Cummins, emphasising the way the captain made important choices on the most important day.

Then Vaughan's turn came, and to everyone's surprise, he named umpire Richard Kettleborough the man of the match. This unorthodox decision gave the post-match analysis a fascinating new angle. Talking on  a podcast called ‘Club Prairie Fire’, Vaughan said: 

“I think you are right. Travis Head was obviously a key candidate. I think you are right, Pat Cummins, for me, his captaincy was remarkable, that mid-play when he changed the bowler every over to not let KL Rahul and Virat Kohli settle, and then he came on and got Virat Kohli out. My star has to be Richard Kettleborough, the umpire; he has to be. He has a great game. If his finger would have gone up…,” 

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Kettleborough has been India’s nightmare 

India's track record in ICC World Cup final and semi-final matches in which Richard Kettleborough served as one of the on-field umpires remained difficult to overcome. This tendency continued in the latest final, as Kettleborough served as one of two on-field umpires alongside Richard Illingworth. Despite their efforts, India was defeated in this vital encounter, extending their unfavourable record in Kettleborough-officiated matches. In cricket, the subtleties of umpiring decisions and their possible impact on match outcomes frequently provide an extra degree of scrutiny and controversy.