Bye Bye WC T20 '09 ...

The Indian team will now be back from their short stint in England after their dead match against SA, where one can say that they Choked out. The on-paper super team, all studded with Champion players, fresh from their share of the media and money, crumpled under pressure.

Clearly, Dhoni’s magic worked only at the toss and the press, but not with his on filed decisions. I may sound like a phony, but one would have expected him to deliver at the Grand Stage. His tactics have worked for India in the past and he indeed has the right to call the shots as the Captain.

It would be unjust to put the whole of the blame on Dhoni’s decisions in the filed. Some of it has to go to his own performance with the bat and behind the stumps too!

The warm-up matches and the matches against the technically weaker countries didn’t really expose the Indians to pressure situations much. But, as Professional International players, they are supposed to be used to such situations. Plus historically, India have had the reputation of coming up with the goods in big matches. This time, the story was different.

Against the WI, India couldn’t just build up the pressure while bowling. While batting, they themselves were put under a lot of pressure by the likes of Taylor and Edwards. The openers did not contribute as a pair in the big matches. Gambhir too failed after just getting starts.

The short balls had India in trouble against the WI and the Englishmen did not miss that trick. In fact, I think, Mr. Collingwood would have sent a bottle of Champagne to Galye & Co. as a token of appreciation for the secret of using short deliveries against the opener Rohit Sharma and the likes of Suresh Raina and Pathan. Rohit and Raina are yet young, and known for having steady heads on their shoulders (except only in cases where the short ball gets over their shoulders). That’s one takeaway, for these future cricketers, I feel. They will have to find a solution to that soon and I am sure they will.

If the mediocre pace of the English attack can have these superb timers of the cricket ball in trouble, I would say that India are fortunate to not have faced the likes of Brett Lee and Dale Steyn, who would have just rocked at the helmets of these blokes. With this background, one really missed Sehwag. But, credit to WI for coming up with the plan that worked wonders for them.

And, where was Dhoni’s whacking bat? Don’t really recollect the last time he played a match winning innings. Understandably, he has the responsibility of captaining the side, but we surely don’t need another Ganguly who can only lead the side and compromise on his performance.

Well, the T20 World Cup ‘09 story is over for India now, and hope India takes a few Lessons out of this Loss and not Lessen the Gloss from the tag of “Former T20 Champions”!

Collingwood said at the presentation that they were boo-d on their home turf and that motivated the players to show their mettle. Well, the next time India comes out to play, rest assure umpteen boo-s, on any ground; especially after being knocked-out of the Championship.

Dhoni said at the presentation that he missed Sehwag. (Wonder if he was repenting, if at all there was a spat.)

The packed Lords ground, with the Indian supporters out-numbering their English counterparts turned silent as the grave after the last over. But, at the end of it all, it’s a game. Someone has to win and someone has to lose. It is sad that India has turned up on the losing side. Not only, because they had raised the hopes of a Billion people, but also because everyone felt that they indeed had the ability to get the Cup again! (Wonder how many people will bother to watch the next matches until the Finals now!)

A few reflections:
1. The national anthem before the matches is an awesome thing and really sets the tone for the players to give their best shot (not effective for India though)
2. What’s so special about MSD that he wins the toss almost every time?
3. Thumbs up to the short Presentation Ceremony and break from Strategic breaks
4. Sourav Ganguly - superstar going for the commentary (warn you, only for the Semis and Finals - what attitude…) - with no India around - LOL
5. The Go Direct and the Maruti Suzuki service station ads are awesome (And yes, India is coming home - maybe not in a Maruti Suzuki now!)
6. And lastly, Harsha Bhogle (having re-grown his hair). Gives people like me, who spend most of their day and almost half of the night in office losing (read pulling) their hair and exhausting all energy to get some “meaningful” data, some hope! ;) (The ladies - don’t take this seriously please!)