The way India went down yesterday to Australia was truly heart-breaking. They were the only team that hadn't lost even one single match in the entire tournament.
The only bad day for the team had to be on the day of the final match for the World Cup. The string of 10 successive wins simply came to nought.
How sad!
But let's give credit where it's due. The Aussie team played superbly. In fact, yesterday's victory was their ninth in a row. Their fielding was outstanding, exemplified by the catch Travis Head took to dismiss Rohit Sharma. In contrast, India's fielding looked sloppy for a change.
I guess the fact that India hadn't lost even one match gave them a feeling of infallibility, a sense of over-confidence. Australia had lost two matches, one to India (on Oct 8) and another to South Africa (on Oct 12).
There are so many conspiracy theories about the pitch. In the end, it is unfair to expect any pitch to assist bowlers or batters, to say that only if the pitch assists will we win! After all, both teams get to play on the same pitch.
Regardless of how a pitch might change its behaviour during the match, it's up to the players to make the best use of it. Yesterday, the Australian players extracted the best from that pitch, and they won.
While the role of the win streak was a soft skill issue, the hard skill issue was India's playing style.
Both played their role in India's defeat.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteCommiserations... (😆 from the expat Aussie!) YAM xx
Hi Yamini - Thanks. It was simply not India's day. But Australian team put up a fantastic performance.
DeleteHi Pradeep - it's a game isn't it ... win or lose, next round win or lose - it sounds like a fantastic game ... and has been a great tournament. It was exciting ... sad India lost ... but the world cup was a success ... at least you were 2nd - not like us!! Australia did play well in the final.
ReplyDeleteCheers and sorry for you once again - Hilary
Hi Hilary - Really felt bad for the England team. But they did do well in some of the later matches. India's case was sheer misfortune. The lone bad day had to be on the day of the final!
DeleteHad India lost 1 or 2 matches during group stage, Indian players would have been more careful and not this much over confident.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is what I too thought.
DeleteToo bad! I hope they can win next time.
ReplyDeleteYes! A game, after all!
DeleteI'm sorry about the loss.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it happens! A game, after all!
DeleteI agree with Liz, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHI Darla - Thank you :-)
DeleteIn spite of the loss, some people around my house burst a few bits of crackers which they saved to savour India's sure-shot victory ;)
ReplyDeleteJust like breaking the pot at the gate. So Sad an incident.(à´•à´Ÿà´•്കൽ à´•ൊà´£്à´Ÿ് à´•ുà´Ÿà´®ുà´Ÿà´š്à´šു.)
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, these collapses at the last are something we are familiar with here in the Netherlands, but mostly over football. In the end, players can only admit the other team was simply better on that occasion. It's the way it goes, but yes, it's a shame for the fans.
ReplyDelete