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1 year ago
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Pat Cummins' 'classy' post-match act has caught the hearts of cricket fans around the globe after his Aussie team won the World Cup.
The skipper was filmed handing the trophy to Australia's Indian support staff, who posed excitedly as Cummins took a picture of the group on a phone.
Indian fans went wild over the humble post-match moment, with social media comments lauding the captain a 'pure gentlemen' and 'true leader'.
'That's really sweet and gentlemanly of him, he's a great bloke. Although today's results broke me,' one fan commented.
'Great gesture by a great sportsman,' a second poster commented.
Cummins' classy act was caught on camera as he took a photo of the Australian team's Indian support staff posing with the World Cup trophy
At one stage he paused to tell the staffers to hoist the trophy up for one of the photos
'He is a good human being, proved before as well,' another person replied, referring to the $50,000 donation Cummins made towards the PM Cares Fund in 2021, an initiative to help India's fight against Covid-19.
Yet it was the humble, heartwarming moment Cummins shared with Indian staff after the match that had cricket heads talking.
'How can I hate this guy now?' one commenter asked.
'Good gesture, he is such a down to earth man,' a fellow fan responded.
Despite what commentator Ian Smith labelled a 'brutal' loss for the Indian side that 'broke a billion hearts along the way', Cummins' 'class act' ended the World Cup on a high note.
It came after Australia lost its first two games to spoil what everyone - in India, at least - thought was going to be a dominant home-turf victory for Rohit Sharma's men.
The Aussie skipper was branded a 'good human being' by Indian fans who were left shattered by their team's six-wicket loss in Ahmedabad
Cummins is pictured receiving the trophy from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian deputy PM Richard Marles
Cummins' teammates also praised the skipper for his leadership and stellar sportsmanship, with Travis Head labelling the captain's response to a 'one-sided' crowd a major 'leadership lesson'.
'The way he reframed the Indian crowd and attitude and converted it into a challenge,' Head celebrated as Australia were led to a sixth World Cup win.
'Words can't express how happy Australia is with you and the team's performance,' an avid Aussie fan commented underneath.
'What a great captain of the ship.'
Cummins' kind gesture with the silverware came just minutes after he was caught up in some very embarrassing scenes during what some cricket fans branded 'the most awkward trophy presentation ever'.
The skipper was left stranded alone on the stage when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian deputy PM Richard Marles abruptly walked off the stage during the ceremony in Ahmedabad after Australia's stunning six-wicket win over India.
Australia's Indian support staff are seen standing behind Cummins as he celebrates with the trophy after his team's underdog win
The Aussie skipper was left looking embarrassed and confused after being left stranded by himself on the stage after the trophy presentation
Cummins seemed puzzled as he was left to stand awkwardly on the dais with the trophy in hand as fireworks went off behind him, sheepishly looking on for more than 30 seconds as his teammates shook hands with the politicians off the stage.
The rest of the side eventually joined him and kicked off overjoyed celebrations to mark the country's record sixth World Cup title, but the scenes struck a nerve with cricket fans, who took to social media to voice their astonishment at the scenes.
'Hahaha most awkward trophy presentation of all time,' one fan posted.
'The most awkward championship trophy presentation in sports history,' wrote cricket author Peter Della Penna.
'They've burned 99% of fireworks on Modi presenting the trophy to Cummins solo and they continue firing as Cummins stands alone on stage while Modi goes off stage to shake hands with the rest of the Aussie squad.'
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