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| ICC 2015 World Cup |
Indians were favorites to win the quarter final clash with Bangladesh given their performance and might, but the match is not over until the last ball is bowled or the last man standing returns to the hut. The prognosis turned true and the Indians came out on the top, beating the resurgent Bangladeshi convincingly. The India vs Bangladesh scorecard was all blue, with the Men in Blue defeating their opposition by a huge margin of 109 runs. With this dream run they now have won 7 matches on a trot, just 2 wins away from clinching the title again. For Bangladesh with this loss, the euphoria died down which had started when then beat England to secure a place in the quarters. All these days until this match, they must have lived life to the fullest, for they were the toast of the nation, but finally the Men in Blue were too hot for them to handle. The Indians played to their potential and expectations.
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| Men in Blue Rule |
An Enigma named Rohit Sharma
For years we have heard umpteen times about the talent Rohit Sharma possesses and how he fails to live upto the expectations. In this world cup as well, baring this match he was off color, not justifying the expectations from him. Media and many former greats rushed to write him off. Comments like he needs to stand up and deliver now, he has not contributed to the team success so far, were splashed everywhere. His match wining innings was a telling answer to all the skeptics who were eager to write him off. The best way to answer your critics is to perform and not retaliate by mouthing expletives is something the Men in Blue have learnt off late. Rohit Sharma’s century would have given him immense confidence. But it also helped India post a formidable total for the Bangladeshi’s to chase. The roaring tigers fell well short off the target as their innings folded at 193. Rohit Sharma’s performance once again gave a stern warning to his detractors to not jump to conclusion and write him off or they will be rendered fools. Rohit Sharma is like a dormant volcano which explodes with slightest provocation, and his explosion resulted in burying the roaring tiger which had turned hostile off late. Good going Rohit, a billion Indians wish you explode every time and put all the resistance where it deserves, to dust.
Chokers,
Who?
Finally the Proteas broke the jinx and got rid of the monkey off their back, the Chokers tag. For last many world cups the propensity of the Proteas faltering in the business end of the tournament only increased earning them an ignominy of being called Chokers. For long this was haunting them no bounds. The tag had become synonymous with them, so much that they hated it at the very mention of it. It sounded even worse than calling them minnows. They were pissed off with this tag, which was evident from their captain and others. They repeatedly brushed aside vehemently this name calling. Finally their day of reckoning came when they crushed the Lankans ruthlessly scuttling them for mere 133 runs which they chased handsomely in less than 20 overs and losing only one wicket. Their body language their resolve was for everybody to see, they hit the ground with a plan and determination to prove the critics wrong and to bury the chokers tag, once and for all.
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| South Africa end knockout hoodoo |
The Lankan Swansong
The pumped-up South Africa ended the knockout Jinx by writing the swansong for the Lankans who were rendered hapless by the Proteas bowling attack. The surprise element was, they were tricked by a part time spinner and a not so great spinner. The duo ripped through the famed Lankan batting line-up who play spin with consummate ease. It was not their day and they folded for paltry score of 133. This loss not only robbed them of the place in the semis, but had to bid adieu to their most prolific batsmen in Sangakkara and Mahela. These 2 for a decade or more have been the mainstay of the Sri Lankan cricket and have contributed heavily in its growth making them a formidable unit. Sangakkara especially was in sublime form in this world cup and scored centuries galore. Mahela for reasons unknown have been off color in this event. The Lankans would have wanted to script a memorable send off for the two, but that was not the case. With heavy hearts and tears in the eyes fans world over saw the duo play last time in the limited version of the game. The game of cricket can be cruel at times, and once again it displayed this trait. South Africans finally ended the knockout hoodoo.
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| Sanga & Mahela retire from ODIs |
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