Lost WTC Final on first day itself, says BCCI president Roger Binny

The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Roger Binny admitted they lost the World Test Championship final against Australia on the first day itself, after the Rohit Sharma-led team suffered a 209-run loss. After putting Australia into bat, India conceded 327-3 on the opening day and it led to their downfall.

In fact, India had Australia on the mat at 73-3 but Travis Head and Steve Smith turned the tables with their huge alliance. Head took the attack against the Indian bowlers from the word go whereas Smith took a backseat.

The Indian bowlers could not bowl in the right areas and they were punished by Head and Smith. India conceded 97 runs in the second session of the opening day and then Smith and Head took the game away from them after scoring 157 runs in the final session.

Smith and Head added 251 runs on the opening day and they played a huge role in helping Australia post 469 runs in the first dig.

“We lost the game on the first day itself. The big partnership that Australia put on was what really turned the tables in this game. Otherwise, the game was even. If you take away that partnership, the game was totally even,” Binny told in an interview with ANI.

Binny, who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, feels the game would have been even if Head and Smith had not added that big partnership.

“I think we left it a bit too late for the 5th day but we lost the game on the first day. The big partnership that Australia put on of 200-odd runs was really turned the tables. Otherwise, the game was even except that partnership, the game was totally even,” said BCCI President Roger Binny.

Binny urged the Indian team to shift their focus to the upcoming ODI World Cup, which India will host in October and November.

“We have something bigger coming up in the future so we have to keep our spirits up and make sure that we do well in the World Cup and it’s at home. So that is important,” Binny spoke about the ODI World Cup 2023.

India would be disappointed with their timid performance as they once again could not win a major ICC trophy.