V Kohlii’s India have virtually been knocked out of the ongoing World Cup.
In a matter of just two defeats – heavy ones for that matter – the proud Indian cricket house, which was boasting of its ability to field two simultaneous teams in the shortest format of cricket not long ago, has suffered a stupendous embarrassment at the global stage.
After their arch rivals Pakistan hammered India by 10 wickets in the tournament opener, a week-long gap did no good to Kohlii’s team which once again finished second, this time against New Zealand in a must-win clash, failing miserably with the bat to suffer another monumental defeat by 8 wickets.
Namibia may be little-known on the cricket map in 2021 but the African country has made its presence felt in this global tournament like no other.
Not only are Namibia ranked above India in the points table for Group 2 in the World Cup, they also have a win in their account – something that India do not.
Following heavy defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand, India are virtually out of the race for the semi-finals. With three games left to play, against Scotland, Namibia and the dangerous Afghanistan, India will also need results from other matches to work in their favour — even victories by big margins against these teams will not suffice. At this stage given how the Indians have performed — timidly, directionless, uninspired and jaded — a break from cricket and time back home might do these cricketers greater good.
India also have a poor Net Run Rate which might prevent them from making it to the final four, even if other results go their way. But before all that, we need to talk about all that has gone wrong with the Indian team and its cricketers in this World Cup.
The same players who looked in red-hot form and promised to constitute a unit which might be the winner of this year’s World Cup, India have been let down by the frailties and feebleness of their batsmen.
R Sharma has been one of India’s best batsmen in the conventional format of the sport over the last two years, but has it come at a price? R Sharma’s runs have dried up in a format wherein he has four centuries. KL Rahul had been in tremendous form in the Indian T20 League, but for some inexplicable reason, he seems lost amid the pressure that this Indian team finds itself in.
A few months back before he gave up captaincy of Team Bangalore and subsequently Team India’s, Kohlii said he would open in the shortest format. While he did go on to do a fair job at the top for Bangalore, on Sunday against the Kiwis he batted at No 4, before walking out at his usual No 3 slot against Pakistan. Either Kohli was not too confident with him at the top order or the other options were too compelling.
Kohlii caved into pressure which originated from the fact that his team just was not getting momentum, looking to clear the New Zealand birthday boy Ish Sodhi but was caught a few meters inside the ropes. Before that, Rahul and Rohit had got off to starts but New Zealand were far too disciplined, determined and executing their plans to perfection to not allow the Indians to settle in.
For example, Rohit was peppered with a short ball on the very first delivery that he faced. A compulsory stroke-maker for all his discipline and focus in red-ball cricket, Rohit was lucky as Adam Milne spilled a regulation catch at deep fine leg.
With Kohli gone at 48/4 in 10.1 overs, the contest was over for India. Hardik Pandya (23 from 24 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (26* from 19 balls) did take India past the 100-run mark, which certainly brought a huge sigh of relief among the distressed and dejected Indian fans.
India’s total of 110/7 was never going to be enough on any pitch, let alone on the Dubai tracks which have been slow but not as difficult to bat on as this Indian team has shown. Pakistan lost no wickets in chasing India’s 151/7, and New Zealand lost only a couple before they got past the finish line with 8 wickets intact and 33 balls left.
Indian batsmen did not hit any boundaries between overs 7-15. Jadeja’s 26 not out was the highest total among batsmen who like to put their bat on the ball for maximum returns. But the night truly belonged to newly-promoted New Zealand opener Daryl Mitchell, who was unfortunate to have missed out on a half-century by a whisker.
Mitchell swatted 3 sixes and 4 fours to make 49 from 35 balls, shutting India out from the contest and eventually, virtually, from the World Cup in the company of Kane Williamson (33*) and earlier, Martin Guptill (20).
If India do not make it to the semi-finals, it will be because of their batsmen failing to deliver in a campaign which will be the country’s worst in the history of the tournament. India just did not attempted to hit fours and sixes that may help them take attack to the opposition and apply pressure back on them. While it is true that both Pakistan and New Zealand bowled tight lines and lengths against India, the Indian bowlers, who are usually top-notch, were erratic.
But for a bunch of cricketers who have been on the road since June this year, a break will do a lot of good since they are back in action, in India, against New Zealand, in this very format for a three-match series marking the start to another jam-packed season just three days after this World Cup gets over.
Devarchit Varma is a cricket writer and journalist with an experience of more than a decade, having worked at Hindustan Times (newspaper) and CricketCountry (website). Along with covering international and domestic cricket, he has also interviewed several current and former top players such as Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Dale Steyn, Michael Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson, Lasith Malinga and many more. He has also worked in other beats as a journalist in Bollywood (Reliance BigOye) and IT (SiliconIndia) industries.
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