Why Aussie cricket stars were BANNED from enjoying one of their biggest traditions after their stunning World Cup win over India
- Aussies triumphed over India by six wickets in Ahmedabad
- The team celebrated the victory in an ecstatic locker room
- However, one element of the post-match celebration was missing
Keen-eyed cricket fans may have noticed one thing that always went hand in hand with Australia’s victory celebrations, but was missing after their stunning World Cup final victory over India: alcohol.
There wasn’t a drop of beer, wine or spirits in sight as skipper Pat Cummins and his men went wild in the changing rooms after the match, and the explanation is simple.
The final was held in Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, where the production, sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
Foreigners are only allowed to purchase alcohol in the state if they have a special permit from the government, but even then they are only given the green light to possess or drink two units of alcohol at any time. They are also not allowed to drink in a public place.
Glenn Maxwell holds up the World Cup trophy as the Aussies celebrated their underdog victory in Ahmedabad – but look closely at the photo and you’ll see something is missing
Pat Cummins (trophy in hand) and his teammates achieved one of the biggest wins of their careers without a single alcoholic drink in sight
The Australian team has clearly decided not to pursue the permit option at the Narendra Modi Stadium as photos and videos taken during their victory celebration in the sheds did not contain alcoholic beverages.
However, the beer was flowing for some stars as they returned to their hotel rooms, with Mitchell Marsh seen drinking a bottle of lager in an Instagram post also shared by Cummins.
Beer and champagne have been synonymous with Australian cricket victories since the national team’s first Test against England in 1877.
Some of the most famous images in Australian cricket history show stars like Shane Warne, David Boon and Doug Walters enjoying a beer or three after winning a match or series.
Adam Zampa (with trophy) and his co-stars did not drink a drop of beer or champagne after beating India due to an alcohol ban in the state of Gujarat, where the final was held
The team’s drunken partying made headlines for a different reason in January 2022, when Cummins paused the team’s champagne-filled festivities so Muslim batsman and teetotaler Usman Khawaja could join in as they won the Ashes 4β0 .
βIf this video doesn’t show you that the boys are behind me, I don’t know what will,β Khawaja wrote on social media.
‘They stopped their normal champagne parties so I could be there again. Inclusivity in the game and our values ββas a sport are so important.
“I feel like we’re going in the right direction.”
Mitchell Marsh (pictured far right) was seen enjoying a beer in his hotel room after the locker room party ended
Cummins and century-scoring match winner Travis Head took center stage as the Aussies claimed their sixth World Cup victory on Monday, AEST.
Head enjoyed a moment alone with the trophy after his match-winning display, with the players jumping up and down and singing along as one of the team’s favorite songs, Freed From Desire, was played.
Cummins spoke of reaching the ‘pinnacle’ of cricket after Australia claimed its sixth Men’s World Cup title and broke the hearts of a nation in the process.
βThat’s huge, that’s the pinnacle of cricket, winning a World Cup, especially here in India,β said Cummins, a captain who won this year’s World Test Championship and retained the Ashes,β he said.
“These are the moments you will remember for the rest of your life.”