DESPITE lots of criticism and poor game strategies the India team managed to save itself from losing the match against West Indies. India defeated West Indies by 80 runs, which makes them eligible for the quarter finals where India will be facing Australia.
Held at M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, the team set up a low target of mere 268 runs with no wickets remaining.
Just after the match got over cricket experts, post-match, showered their criticism on Indian batsmen.
The Indian team doesn’t seem to be so serious about the world cup. Ace Indian batsmen couldn’t stand tall in front of explosive bowlers from the Windies team.
Ravi rampaul from West Indies shone throughout the first half of the match, grabbing a whopping 5 wickets.
The last 5 wickets of the Indian team fell for a meagre 28 runs. Just as in the previous match against South Africa, the middle order did not work this time as well. Virat kohli and Yuvraj singh saved the team though, but even then, the team could not score much this time.
Virat Kohli scored 59 runs and Yuvraj singh scored an impressive 113 runs for 123 balls and was crowned as the man of the match.
People were expecting another nostalgic performance from the god of cricket - Sachin Tendulkar, but luck failed to be with him and he got dismissed for just 2 runs. People had high hopes from captain M.S. Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir, but both walked to the pavilion after scoring 22 runs each.
Yusuf pathan (11), Harbhajan singh (3), and Suresh Raina(4), added to the flop list.
This time bowling was better. All wickets were claimed by Indian bowlers and the windies team collapsed at 188 runs in 43 overs.
The main point of tension in the team is the poor play at the powerplay. Yuvraj singh was dismissed just a ball before the Powerplay was set to begin. And the batsmen who followed performed terribly.
Five wickets fell so easily just for 28 runs. Though India won the match but there were mixed emotions. Indian team’s strategies are not as flawless at it was claimed to be at the beginning. Initially, ace batsmen like sachin and sehwag saved the matches for India and bowling wasn’t strong. This time bowlers showed improvement but middle order seems to tremble at the time of powerplay.
If we follow all the matches that India has played during the world cup, the middle order performed badly and the fall of wickets was frequent and unexpected.
India has to face Australia at the quarter finals, and the Aussies are going to be tough contenders. Luck won’t work for India everytime. The Indian team’s performance on every aspect needs to be sharp this time.
Special emphasis should be on the blunt middle order and better strategies and strong batsmen for powerplays. India has a last chance to nail it and imbibe confidence in the sagging spirits of Indian cricket fans.
Unless the team members get a better grip on their individual responsibilities, bringing home the cup again might remain to be a dream unfulfilled.
Read More On >> ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Cricket World Cup News
