There was a time when Indian fans used to wait for slog overs as Indian batting graph usually had an exponential curve with most thrills ending the show. It was somewhat the opposite today at Nagpur. I remember some early comments from the players that they won't mind winning the cup for Tendulkar as it is the only shortfall in the list of his credentials. Well, Tendulkar contributed his part fairly well. Could team India do a fair play in totality?
The cricket fans and followers were delighted by Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambhir. With 142 runs for first wicket partnership followed by 125 runs for second wicket partnership, Indian Cricket fraternity was all happy for MS Dhoni who had earlier commented that the team needs to make a fresh start. Indeed what could have been better than this after witnessing the early fall of wickets in the previous matches. When score board was tickling 267/2 in 40.1 overs, it seemed that India is going to offer a mammoth score of 350+ to SA for a tiring chase. Alas!!!! who could have thought that the team wouldn't even be able to stand for 50 overs. 9 wickets in 9 overs could hardly add up another 28 runs to finish with a score of 296 in 48.4 overs. South African dressing room was captivated to chase 297.
South Africa played a mature, calm and composed innings and confidently grabbed a 3 wicket win. Perhaps it was our luck that favored India during India-England match, otherwise that wasn't much different a scene. A tie in Cricket World Cup ODI is a rare situation. In that match too, Indian batsmen did miserably in the slog overs wherein the competitor performed just the opposite. Remove the last 2 overs from both the innings of India - England match and the result turns upside down. Is this the pressure that's haunting Indian players in the slog overs?
A win usually spreads cheers but a struggling win against a fledgling team raises a question. And now, we also have a loss in our records. Each match has a new drama which impels MS Dhoni to counter the media. Sometimes, bowlers, sometimes front-line batsmen, sometimes middle order line-up and then the fielding problems are omnipresent. However, if a mistake learnt from one game is overcome and not repeated in another, it would reflect that the equation is trying to achieve an equilibrium. Hopefully it happens soon that we see an all round Indian team to demonstrate a complete cricket and appear as the most deserving team to sweep off the victory. After all, its THE WORLD CUP!!!!!
The cricket fans and followers were delighted by Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambhir. With 142 runs for first wicket partnership followed by 125 runs for second wicket partnership, Indian Cricket fraternity was all happy for MS Dhoni who had earlier commented that the team needs to make a fresh start. Indeed what could have been better than this after witnessing the early fall of wickets in the previous matches. When score board was tickling 267/2 in 40.1 overs, it seemed that India is going to offer a mammoth score of 350+ to SA for a tiring chase. Alas!!!! who could have thought that the team wouldn't even be able to stand for 50 overs. 9 wickets in 9 overs could hardly add up another 28 runs to finish with a score of 296 in 48.4 overs. South African dressing room was captivated to chase 297.
South Africa played a mature, calm and composed innings and confidently grabbed a 3 wicket win. Perhaps it was our luck that favored India during India-England match, otherwise that wasn't much different a scene. A tie in Cricket World Cup ODI is a rare situation. In that match too, Indian batsmen did miserably in the slog overs wherein the competitor performed just the opposite. Remove the last 2 overs from both the innings of India - England match and the result turns upside down. Is this the pressure that's haunting Indian players in the slog overs?
A win usually spreads cheers but a struggling win against a fledgling team raises a question. And now, we also have a loss in our records. Each match has a new drama which impels MS Dhoni to counter the media. Sometimes, bowlers, sometimes front-line batsmen, sometimes middle order line-up and then the fielding problems are omnipresent. However, if a mistake learnt from one game is overcome and not repeated in another, it would reflect that the equation is trying to achieve an equilibrium. Hopefully it happens soon that we see an all round Indian team to demonstrate a complete cricket and appear as the most deserving team to sweep off the victory. After all, its THE WORLD CUP!!!!!
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