Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan praised Travis Head for his pivotal role in Australia's triumph over India in the World Cup 2023 final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, November 19.
Vaughan commended Head for his exceptional catch that dismissed Rohit Sharma on 47 and highlighted his remarkable innings of 137 runs, steering the Aussies to chase down 240 with seven overs to spare. Head, joining the elite league of Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, became the third Australian man to score a century in a World Cup final.
In his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Vaughan backed Head's potential for a lucrative deal in the upcoming 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasising Head's incredible performances.
"Australia’s bowlers were all excellent, and they fielded brilliantly. Travis Head led that with the catch of Rohit Sharma, a huge moment in the game, then played a superb innings with the bat. To be player of the match in the World Cup semi-final and final is very special. In no time at all, he has become one of the most dangerous batters in the world, proving that you can improve over time," Vaughan expressed.
"I am not sure what exactly he has done, but he is a great example to all cricketers that there is room for improvement. Years ago, there was potential, but he wasn’t consistently dangerous. His method now is the blueprint for sustained aggression, and how to dictate terms. My guess is that he might get a rather large IPL contract – and he should," Vaughan added.
Head's return from injury was remarkable, marked by a century against New Zealand at the HPCA Stadium in his World Cup debut. His impactful performance continued with the Player of the Match accolade against South Africa, showcasing a brisk half-century during a challenging run-chase at the Eden Gardens.
Coming to the final showdown of the recently concluded ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, India faced a setback, posting a modest total of 240 runs on a slow and sluggish track in Ahmedabad on November 19, Sunday. Rohit Sharma's brisk 31-ball 47 provided an impressive start for the hosts. However, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul struggled to accelerate, managing a 67-run partnership over 18.3 overs.
In response, India's opening bowling attack aggressively claimed three wickets for 47 runs. Yet, despite this initial breakthrough, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship and eventually forged an impressive 192-run partnership. Their stellar performance helped Australia comfortably chase down the target with seven overs to spare. This victory marked Australia's ninth consecutive win, securing a record-extending sixth World Cup title.