- The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup in Australia has been full of unexpected results, twists, twirls, and loaded with extreme unpredictability usually associated with the shortest format of cricket. Not for nothing cricket is labelled as an unpredictable game where supposed experts have come a cropper with their predictions going horribly wrong. That’s the beauty of any game but cricket has loads of such unexpected turns, yous ee. No wonder, cricket at least in India, has been elevated to a status of religion for these reasons alone with literally every citizen following the game with such fondness Cricket will pause the country, and it’s not an exaggeration.
PC: AFP
- As you are aware, Team India is always considered a top contender for any multilateral events through the abundant possession of sheer talent, skill sets, and champion players representing the group. Justifying the top billing, Team India has reached the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup in Australia and will take on England on Thursday i.e. 10th November in the second semi-final. Let’s look at how the team has fared till now whilst making it to the last four. Mind you, cricket is a team game and each player is expected to deliver to emerge triumphant, save for some individual brilliance that was witnessed along the way. Who are they? Let’s look into it here.
- We saw how Virat Kohli single-handedly won the match against arch-rival Pakistan in the group stage by cracking an unbelievable inning. Likewise, the 360-degree player Surya Kumar Yadav has won a couple of matches through his superlative efforts with the bat leading up to the knockouts. Bowlers Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh have been on the money so far. Even the much-criticized and under-the-radar opening batter KL Rahul has finally struck form by scoring successive half-centuries against Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Allrounder Hardik Pandya has chipped in with valuable contributions with both bat and ball during crunch situations.
PC: PTI
- Spinners Ashwin and Axar Patel have shown enough promise with their bowling efforts right through the group stage. However, there is one individual who appears to have escaped the attention of the critiques so far even though the returns from the batter have not been up to scratch. Yes, I am referring to a world-class white-ball exponent and a great like Rohit Sharma who happens to be the skipper of the team. He has looked out of sorts and far from being his usual elegant self yet far. Save for one unconvincing half-century, the Hitman Rohit Sharma has consistently failed to provide an explosive start we the cricket-crazy fans are so used to.
- For the people in the know, Rohit’s struggles right through the last edition of the IPL as well as returning with below-par performances were apparent. The elusive free-flowing form usually associated with Rohit Sharma has surely dented the top order of the team. However, Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav have ensured the focus stays away from Rohit’s lack of form. As they say, the class is permanent and the form is temporary, Indian fans expect him to come out all guns blazing during the knockout. If that happens, there is no reason why Team India will be denied lifting the coveted ICC T20 trophy after a long wait. Go for it Team India!
