- Over the last few years, the Indian cricket team has been outstanding in all weather conditions, and against all opposition teams, would be viewed as an understatement. Especially, the overseas performances in the last four years under the stewardship of Ravi Shastri as Head Coach is nothing short of spectacular. The two back-to-back triumphs in the Test series Down Under in Australia definitely count as no less than momentous achievements to be etched permanently in the annals of Indian cricket. Not discounting the fact that Team India also leads 2-1 in the recently contested Test series in England, with one more to be played as the Covid infection curtailed the final match.
PC: Scroll Staff
- As you perform credibly, the expectations too will mount commensurately. Going into the delayed T20 World Cup event presently underway in the United Arab Emirates, Team India was unanimously considered as one of the four teams to make it to the semi-finals. Such has been the all-around firepower displayed by the team in the last few years that cricket aficionados were convinced Team India would go the distance. One need not mention the way cricket-crazy Indian fans who expect no less than title triumph every time our players take to the field. Especially, in a marquee event like World Cups, Indian fans will not settle for anything less and will vociferously root for the team to lift the coveted title.
- Unfortunately, Team India keeps floundering when it matters the most hugely disappointing their millions of supporters. It happened in the 2019 50 over World Cup in England where we faltered to deceive in the semi-finals against the Kiwis and miserably failed to even reach the final four in the ongoing T20 World Cup too. The meek capitulation to arch-rival Pakistan in the opening contest when we lost by a whopping 10 wickets and the subsequent 8 wickets heavy defeat against New Zealand has completely deflated the Indian fans’ enthusiasm always expecting miracles from the team. Any loss against Pakistan is simply unacceptable and the mauling the team received in the match would have shocked millions.
PC: ANI
- Complete absence of intent, aggressiveness, positive body language, and pulling above the weights expected from Team India proved to be elusive in those two contests. Ask millions who watched the no-contest. Utterly unbelievable. Winning three consecutive matches against the minnows would hardly compensate for getting knocked out from the tournament. Reasons being cited for the ignominious exit viz. bio-bubble fatigue, inadequate rest, on the road for six months, and some such factors do not cut much with the comprehending fans. Professional sporting outfits are expected to deliver and not cite excuses for the humiliating losses.
- The moot point to ponder over here is why the Indian Premier League was squeezed-in before the World Cup? Of course, none of the superstar players skipped the lucrative league citing fatigue. Players could have sought rest and received permission from the Board before the World Cup, but none opted for the same, you see. Faulty selections, lack of application, timid approach, and fearful disposition proved to be our undoing. The selectors too need to be questioned for choosing unfit players and forgetting the maxim, horses for courses approach. Hopefully, a new beginning will be seen sooner than later.
