Australia Star Marnus Labuschagne Retires World Cup-Winning Bat, Team India Fans React

ByZane BOBBY

Labuschagne played a crucial role in Australia’s six-wicket victory over India in the 2023 World Cup Final on November 19, scoring an unbeaten fifty.

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has decided to retire a significant piece of cricket memorabilia—the bat he used during Australia’s triumphant 2023 World Cup final against India. The 30-year-old revealed on social media that the bat, now broken, will no longer be in use, bringing back bittersweet memories for Indian fans.

In that final, Labuschagne played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten fifty to help Australia secure their sixth World Cup title. He came in at a challenging moment when Australia was struggling at 47/3 while chasing a target of 241.

Labuschagne anchored the innings perfectly, allowing Travis Head to lead the charge with an impressive 137 off 120 balls. Together, they built a crucial 192-run partnership, which effectively sealed the victory for Australia. Labuschagne remained not out, scoring 58 off 110 balls, guiding his team to a six-wicket win.

Labuschagne posted an image of his bat from the 2023 World Cup final on social media, showcasing its worn-out state. The Kookaburra bat, visibly rugged, has significant portions of the willow at the middle and bottom chipped away, reflecting the intense use it endured during the match.

Indian fans reactIndian fans responded to Labuschagne’s tweet in a varying manner.

One fan expressed their frustration that Labuschagne delivered such a crucial performance in the final, saying,

“We hate that bat and that innings, Marnus. We don’t mind you playing well against England, but why India, why against India?”

Another fan highlighted the sentimental value of the bat, noting that even established cricketers like Labuschagne can have a deep attachment to their equipment. “We used to think that only people like us who play in school, club, etc., keep such bats. Attachment is something like this; the favorite bat cannot be easily left behind. He is such a big player,” the fan remarked.