Decision to hide MS Dhoni and Kiwis' brilliance knocks India out of the 2019 World Cup

[fight_club]

India was reeling at 5 for 3. Kiwis Lethal New Ball attack was Precision personified hitting the "Jackpot" line and length on a Pitch which had enough in it. In walked Dinesh Karthik who Few days ago Spoke about how he has been included as a specialist No.7.

Eye brow were raised The Situation was tailor made for Dhoni to absorb the pressure and put the ball, venomous pitch and Inspired Kiwi's Bowlers to sleep.

Maybe, India did not want to Expose him too soon against new ball which likes of Boult and Henry was making to sing. Karthik Departed to a stunning Catch by Neesham, Surely now "Dhoni will come and stop the wicket flow" and I, watched in bewilderment India Best Hitter Walking in the middle Score reading 24/4 in 10th over situation crying out loud for Dhoni. "What have you done"

Gosh, What a Semi-final it was Spanning over two days in which Kiwi's batted as well as bowled in the "morning" on a Tricky pitch. Oh, the Pitch which both Captains read perfectly well as India decided to lengthen their batting and Taylor Played a "Dhonisque" inning which might have induced
the infamous Sarfaraz Yawn.

I believe Kiwi's made a huge blunder by not sending their best player of Spin and a south paw Latham. Watching Taylor "Dottathon" might have got Dhoni really Jealous but for a average Cricket fan like me it was jaw dropping ugly.

However, Pitch continue to unravel itself with bowl spitting, Turing and stopping aka Nagpur 3rd day Test pitch (match doesn't progress to 5th)
New Zealand weaker discipline has been their batting and for them any Pitch which is not Ideal to bat will always be a good pitch nullifying India Strong Batting and bringing their Dangerous bowling and fielding in the game.

It took some time to sink in Williamson plan of getting near 240 score and not to be too adventures. The biggest Problem for Indian Cricket fan is that they are never getting factual critical analysis about their weakness as everyone is queuing up to become next level cheerleader.

Losing Dhavan was turning Point for Me. As It has put Virat in Tremendous pressure robbing him from playing freely. Then crisis in Middle order was real actually India has been winning majority of its games due to the Best Bowling attack in the world.

Batting has always been too dependent on the Top 3 and once that wall cracked by losing Dhavan India batting was always under tremendous pressure. Rohit brilliance only hide the obvious but Crunch match's will always make you pay for any weak link and it eventually did.


Jadeja might have saved India from abject humiliation and actually allowed India to make a fist of it. On a Pitch where best of the Batsmen struggled for any ryhme or rhythem, Jadeja timed it with rediculous ease I thought Kiwi's erred in their line to Jadeja and were too leg stumpish but boy the Inning was akin to the Peach Hardik Played against Pakistan in ICC Champion Trophy Finals.

He bought not Only India Back in the game but aspired billions hopes for an unlikely win no one will forget this heroic inning of a true hero of India who has contributed more in the field than few with bat.

Take a bow, Sir Jadeja may your legend Live forever.

As, is the case with chasing 10 an over that a mishit is always near the corner but the nail in the coffin was that Brilliant direct hit from Guptill who deserve a place in the team for his fielding alone. That Direct hit coming from an acute angle beat Dhoni by a fraction and in the end that was the margin in this thrilling encounter.

Dhoni, has coped up with so much of criticism, some of which uncalled for as he no longer is a guy who can take you over the rope on his own might rue the fact he couldn't but for me the die was cast when He was not sent
at no.6. It's a decision India will rue for a long time.

Fight_Club

 

[Dingolfy]

Dhoni was never a good batsman when the ball swung even in his prime. Thats the reason he failed in Tests outside India. So sending Kartik was the only logical option.

 

[fight_club]

Dhoni was never a good batsman when the ball swung even in his prime. Thats the reason he failed in Tests outside India. So sending Kartik was the only logical option.

given, But sending Hardik Pandya at 6 when 10 overs were already bowled ?

their is simply no excuse

 

[Hasan123]

If Karthik is a finisher why was he sent at 5? I think Dhoni should have come at 5 and Kartik at 6 or 7. Karthik maybe rubbish now, but he as experience of batting in the middle order. He would have rotated the strike better than he did if he was batting later.

 

[MP2011]

Karthik maybe rubbish now, but he as experience of batting in the middle order.

Karthik has experience in being **** all his pathetic career.

 

[Ab Fan]

India had a terrible start. But they were chasing 240, not 320. So, we were still in game. It was disheartening watching Dhoni not coming to bat early. For once,you would think it's okay to send Karthik ahead of him but Dhoni not even coming at 6 was really embarrassing. His game perfectly suited to the condition.

India should have gone with this lineup for this match:-

Rahul
Rohit
Kohli
Karthik
Dhoni
Pant
Pandya
Jadeja

 

[Savak]

Dhoni's cuteness failing gave me the greatest satisfaction. He thought he could fully take advantage of Neesham's final over and become a hero for India again and make up for his selfish play, he thought he could easily get away with a second run when the keeper was no where close to the stumps but Guptill handed it to him and showed him the finger. Dhoni did not deserve to get a farewell on a high.

 

[DHONI183]

It is beyond me whether the current Indian think-tank over-rates Dhoni at this stage of his career, or under-rates him! The ONLY ability that MS still had left in him over the recent few years was his ability to literally block one end from losing further wickets. An early collapse literally demanded for MS to have been sent out right away to do the job that he's still very much capable of. He should ideally have been sent ahead of Pant too, but fine with that if they stuck with their top-order that way. However, how on earth could you bat him lower than Karthik and even Hardik?! The match had become a done case by the time MS arrived.

 

[Smbhayi]

Exactly this.. He should've come after 5/3.. He's the only remaining one who can play longer innings at that time..

 

[DHONI183]

The decision not to send in MS to bring the collapse to a halt doesn't frustrate me as much as the explanation given by Kohli does. As I read, the thinking behind hiding him down the order was to use him for "Damage control" should it come to that. Firstly, it seems that both Kohli and coach Shastri do not consider 5/3 and then 24/4 as "damage." It seems that they both seem to have given this word a whole new meaning.

Secondly, such thinking would've made much more sense if India had been batting first, and then the move might've paid off as well. Actually, in fact, it did. In such a case, India would've got to 221 from a hopeless situation. So well done Kohli on that, except India weren't batting first. A baffling explanation by him really! Doesn't reflect well on his thinking ability as a captain. The decision had nothing to do with hindsight; rather more to do with being aware of the team that you've selected to play on the day.

 

[big_gamer007]

Coward dhoni and garbage team management.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

India was reeling at 5 for 3. Kiwis Lethal New Ball attack was Precision personified hitting the "Jackpot" line and length on a Pitch which had enough in it. In walked Dinesh Karthik who Few days ago Spoke about how he has been included as a specialist No.7.

Eye brow were raised The Situation was tailor made for Dhoni to absorb the pressure and put the ball, venomous pitch and Inspired Kiwi's Bowlers to sleep.

Maybe, India did not want to Expose him too soon against new ball which likes of Boult and Henry was making to sing. Karthik Departed to a stunning Catch by Neesham, Surely now "Dhoni will come and stop the wicket flow" and I, watched in bewilderment India Best Hitter Walking in the middle Score reading 24/4 in 10th over situation crying out loud for Dhoni. "What have you done"

Gosh, What a Semi-final it was Spanning over two days in which Kiwi's batted as well as bowled in the "morning" on a Tricky pitch. Oh, the Pitch which both Captains read perfectly well as India decided to lengthen their batting and Taylor Played a "Dhonisque" inning which might have induced
the infamous Sarfaraz Yawn.

I believe Kiwi's made a huge blunder by not sending their best player of Spin and a south paw Latham. Watching Taylor "Dottathon" might have got Dhoni really Jealous but for a average Cricket fan like me it was jaw dropping ugly.

However, Pitch continue to unravel itself with bowl spitting, Turing and stopping aka Nagpur 3rd day Test pitch (match doesn't progress to 5th)
New Zealand weaker discipline has been their batting and for them any Pitch which is not Ideal to bat will always be a good pitch nullifying India Strong Batting and bringing their Dangerous bowling and fielding in the game.

It took some time to sink in Williamson plan of getting near 240 score and not to be too adventures. The biggest Problem for Indian Cricket fan is that they are never getting factual critical analysis about their weakness as everyone is queuing up to become next level cheerleader.

Losing Dhavan was turning Point for Me. As It has put Virat in Tremendous pressure robbing him from playing freely. Then crisis in Middle order was real actually India has been winning majority of its games due to the Best Bowling attack in the world.

Batting has always been too dependent on the Top 3 and once that wall cracked by losing Dhavan India batting was always under tremendous pressure. Rohit brilliance only hide the obvious but Crunch match's will always make you pay for any weak link and it eventually did.


Jadeja might have saved India from abject humiliation and actually allowed India to make a fist of it. On a Pitch where best of the Batsmen struggled for any ryhme or rhythem, Jadeja timed it with rediculous ease I thought Kiwi's erred in their line to Jadeja and were too leg stumpish but boy the Inning was akin to the Peach Hardik Played against Pakistan in ICC Champion Trophy Finals.

He bought not Only India Back in the game but aspired billions hopes for an unlikely win no one will forget this heroic inning of a true hero of India who has contributed more in the field than few with bat.

Take a bow, Sir Jadeja may your legend Live forever.

As, is the case with chasing 10 an over that a mishit is always near the corner but the nail in the coffin was that Brilliant direct hit from Guptill who deserve a place in the team for his fielding alone. That Direct hit coming from an acute angle beat Dhoni by a fraction and in the end that was the margin in this thrilling encounter.

Dhoni, has coped up with so much of criticism, some of which uncalled for as he no longer is a guy who can take you over the rope on his own might rue the fact he couldn't but for me the die was cast when He was not sent
at no.6. It's a decision India will rue for a long time.

Fight_Club

very coward of Dhoni... very very coward.... this is what the difference is between a great and and ATG is ... Dhoni is a great of the Game but wont get anywhere near the ATG of Imran Khan who came at no3 in such pressure situations and perform ... ahhh the coward ....

 

[The_Odd_One]

Bizzare that Dhoni hid behind Pant and Pandya, both playing their first world cup knockout game in very challenging conditions.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Bizzare that Dhoni hid behind Pant and Pandya, both playing their first world cup knockout game in very challenging conditions.

an injured all rounder and a novice 21 year old .... so shamefullllll.... and to worse it up. it was dhoni.. my least hated player from india

 

[MisbahTheGreat]

WHy are idiots blaming Dhoni? He is not the captain. It was Kohli and Shastri decision to push him down.

Indian fans are as clueless as their captain and coach

 

[jaisan]

Blake the captan and coach.

 

[RamLakhan]

Dhoni was not playing in this team as batsman at all...! He was there because of his experience, guidance to captain, wicket-keeping (perhaps). So at least India should not have been dependent on him for his batting. The mistake was to pick Rahul, Karthik and Pant - all of these guys! I think only 1 out of these two should have been picked. Rahul was sufficient perhaps (because he serves the purpose of Reserve Opener + Wicket-keeping! Really you needed a reserve wicket-keeper at the most if Dhoni was injured on the day or before the day of the match! Dhoni is not going to be dropped for form isn't it?) If Dhoni had caught up with an injury (like Dhawan) then he should have been straight replaced with Pant or anyone! But why the hell we needed Pant & DK? Instead of these two players we should have really got SPECIALIST middle-order batsmen from somewhere to handle the crucial No.4 & No.5 positions! (Even if it was Rayudu, Pandey, etc, I didn't bother!) If Pant or DK is in the team then they should also bat at No.7 (If Dhoni prefers No.7, then why not them?) DK is used to finishing job (the finals against Bangladesh) and Pant is supposed to bat at No.6 or No.7 (not exactly finisher, a late recovery-person!)

The love for Dhoni messed it up everything! In order to accommodate him we not only blocked one position, we blocked 2 or 3 more positions in the team!

 

[RamLakhan]

WHy are idiots blaming Dhoni? He is not the captain. It was Kohli and Shastri decision to push him down.

Indian fans are as clueless as their captain and coach

Can't Dhoni handle that situation on his own? Can't he tell everyone that I will go there and bat (like he did in 2011 finals?)

 

[The_Odd_One]

WHy are idiots blaming Dhoni? He is not the captain. It was Kohli and Shastri decision to push him down.

Indian fans are as clueless as their captain and coach

You must be kidding if you think Dhoni has no influence. He can play as long as he wants and at any position he thinks is best for him and both Kohli and Shastri cannot do anything about it.

 

[Vegitto1]

Dhoni almost won you the match. He paced his innings - hit a six first ball off the second last over and who is to say he wouldn’t have hit more had he not been run out by a brilliant piece of fielding.

 

[DHONI183]

There has been a lot of criticism on Dhoni´s batting, and especially his approach, over the last few years. I´ve always kept quite and not defended him, because often it was justified too I must admit. I was amongst those who argued with Indian posters over here that his innings against England a couple of weeks ago made absolutely no sense at all, because what´s point in defending the indefensible? However, it seems that it has become quite a trend to blame him for everything going wrong in this world, from global warming to the crisis in the Middle East. His case is like that daughter-in-law who´s scolded one day for serving only one bread to her mother-in-law and thus leaving her hungry; and when she serves her a couple of those the next day, she´s scolded again because the sudden increase has caused the woman stomach ache! Hell, three years ago, he was even criticised heavily for making 15 not out off nine balls in the World T20 Semi-Final, as if nine balls is a great sample size!

I´d like to be told how exactly was MS or his innings at fault for the semi-final defeat? Those of you who´re after him for batting slowly, do you even realise how foolish it would´ve looked on his part if he had taken a risk and got out, whilst Jadeja was going berserk at the other end? Would you´ve forgiven him if he´d left Jadeja alone to bat alongside the tail-enders in the middle of a partnership which looked great to be winning the match altogether? We can all talk about taking calculated risks all day, but do you realise that it just takes one bad shot, mistimed or mis-hit, and the innings is done for you, and the tail would´ve been left to partner Jadeja? At least I would´ve been very disappointed if he´d done that.

Australia´s Carey is a prime example here. He has been one of the stars of the tournament. A revelation if you like. Battled the initial collapse beautifully with Smith in the Semi-Final when they were 14/3 at one stage. Stitched together a brilliant partnership with Smith. Australia looked on course to be getting a total around 260, or even over perhaps. He played a terrible shot, was caught at deep mid-wicket, Australia collapsed to 222. And mind you, he still had Maxwell and Stoinis to come, yet the shot proved to be the turning point of the match. We can make it simple and ask both Smith and Jadeja: did Smith prefer Carey´s shot or did Jadeja prefer MS minimising every risk at the other end? In fact, leave this comparison aside and let Jadeja be the judge: how relieved was he that he was batting with a partner at the other end who almost carried a guarantee of not getting out (given the number of wickets lost), or did he feel being put under pressure by MS´ slow scoring rate? I think you´ll have your answer! Returning to the point about taking calculated risks towards the last few overs. Jadeja´s innings in times of quality and value was miles, miles ahead of MS´ innings, but remember that the moment the last five overs started, MS right away became the more key wicket of the two, simply because he has a greater hitting ability, on papers at least, and has finished matches for India time and time again batting with the lower-order or the tail, whereas Jadeja has hardly ever done that. So it became all the more important for MS to have not preferred to take risks and to have left it to Jadeja, especially given that that had been the plan working for them throughout the partnership.

As for slow scoring, a former Indian cricketer even put the blame on MS for Pandya´s shot, implying that MS´ slow scoring put pressure on him. So let me get this straight: Pandya, who himself had made 32 off 62 deliveries by that stage, felt being under pressure to go for his shots because of MS?! Does that even make sense? What I gather is that Steve Smith is allowed to make 85 off 119 balls, Carey too can get away with a 46 off 70 balls, Williamson is louded for his 67 off 95, Taylor is praised for his 74 off 90 balls, both Pant and Pandya are allowed to scrap through to 32 each off 56 and 62 balls respectively, but MS isn´t allowed to make 50 off 72 even when the team found itself at 71/5 and then finally at 92/6 at one stage.

Another rather striking thing here is the favouritsm in the media and amongst the former cricketers and experts. All in unison have expressed the thought that Pant should be forgiven for his horrible shot (and Pandya too) because of him being young, naïve and inexperienced. I don´t oppose this, and it´s a noble and quite a romantic thought, but when was the last time when an Indian batsman got so much leniency despite playing such a poor shot at such a crucial stage? Was Dhoni forgiven for his failure in the Indian Oil Cup Final and then the TVS Cup Final back in 2005, when he had been playing only since half a year? Was he forgiven for his mindless shot in the Mumbai Test Match 2006? Was he forgiven for playing a stupid shot of Brett Lee in an ODI in Malaysia in 2006, despite it being a big no-ball? Was MS not grilled for his slow start against the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, despite having fully made up for it later in the innings to have allowed India to get a fighting total? Were people not asking for his head following the first-round exit in the ODI World Cup 2007? I tell you, he WAS NOT! So why this special sympathy for Pant (and also Pandya)? A lot of these very experts questioned his technique and also his commitment for the national team altogether!

Now, people are even blaming him for not batting up the order himself, totally overlooking that Kohli is the captain of the team. As a senior member of the side, to give inputs whenever asked by the captain, or to give ideas with regards to whom to bowl or where the fielders should be placed is entirely different to saying that "Send me up the order!" in a world cup semi-final, when the coach, the batting consultant, captain and the whole team management has made up its mind to assign to you a role to bat lowest down the order - not lower, but lowest of all the recognised batsmen. In fact, Manjrekar pointed out a scene in his analysis during the semi-final itself, where MS voiced his thought with regards to what line and length to bowl, and Kohli shook his head in negation. MS immediately walked back to his keeping position. So it doesn´t work like that, unless of course you´re hell-bent on blaming him for everything that goes wrong. In fact, I´d be the first one to criticise him for batting so low if it comes out one day that they all wanted him to bat higher up the order but he himself refused to do so. Also, for those who´re ready to blame him by accepting that he chooses the batting order, do they also praise him for example for sending Pandya up the order in a couple of games where he batted really well? So you can´t have both ways!

India didn´t lose because of MS or his slow batting, neither did they necessarily lose because of him not batting up the order. It was a strategic miss by all means, but it just takes one good ball or a bad shot for a batsman to get out, and this could very well have happened. India lost because they did not have another MS in the team batting in the middle-order. One more batsman with a calm head like him and the ability to soak up the pressure, and the match was India´s all the way.

If this was his last international appearance, if he retires now or gets dropped, so be it. I´ll take it. I take pride in the fact that he was only one of the two batsmen on one of the biggest stages of cricket, who were willing to play for the team and fought tooth and nail to get their team over the line. We can call him Mr. Cool all that we want to, but pressure does take toll on everyone. The moment India lost early wickets, he knew right away that this match could well come down to him. He was hardly seated even for a minute. Walking to and fro, checking and examining his bat, its wood again and again. He knows, he knew that the blame of a loss will ultimately fall on his shoulders. It was a sad sight to witness in a sense. However, again, if this turns out to be his last match, it just defines his career and his value to the team. Fighting a collapse, stitching together a partnership and then requiring to score at almost an impossible rate with the tail. Many he won, many he lost, but it would ultimately be his dismissal which would decide the match, and so indeed it happened. For a great part of his career, Tendulkar would be India´s first and the last hope. Dhoni wasn´t the first hope of course, but often he was India´s last hope. I take pride in this and move on in life! I know he tried, he gave it his best shot on Wednesday, and that´s what matters to me. It never mattered to me beyond that.

 

[Lego20]

Can't Dhoni handle that situation on his own? Can't he t7ell everyone that I will go there and bat (like he did in 2011 finals?)

Yes if the opposition is Sri lanka and spinners bowling on a flat pitch.

 

[DHONI183]

..... India didn´t lose because of MS or his slow batting, neither did they necessarily lose because of him not batting up the order. It was a strategic miss by all means, but it just takes one good ball or a bad shot for a batsman to get out, and this could very well have happened. India lost because they did not have another MS in the team batting in the middle-order. One more batsman with a calm head like him and the ability to soak up the pressure, and the match was India´s all the way.....

Seems like that coach Shastri agrees with me on this. He has admitted to India missing out on a "solid" batsman in the middle-order. There you go, I suppose.

Yes if the opposition is Sri lanka and spinners bowling on a flat pitch.

There was this 5th ODI of the series against South Africa, in South Africa, which was India´s last match before the World Cup 2011. India required quite a huge target of 268 in just 46 overs. After the loss of two early wickets, Dhoni walked out to bat at number four, a place higher than the one where he batted in the World Cup Final 2011. He got out very cheaply though but the point is obvious.

 

[DHONI183]

There has been a lot of criticism on Dhoni´s batting, and especially his approach, over the last few years. I´ve always kept quite and not defended him, because often it was justified too I must admit. I was amongst those who argued with Indian posters over here that his innings against England a couple of weeks ago made absolutely no sense at all, because what´s point in defending the indefensible? However, it seems that it has become quite a trend to blame him for everything going wrong in this world, from global warming to the crisis in the Middle East. His case is like that daughter-in-law who´s scolded one day for serving only one bread to her mother-in-law and thus leaving her hungry; and when she serves her a couple of those the next day, she´s scolded again because the sudden increase has caused the woman stomach ache! Hell, three years ago, he was even criticised heavily for making 15 not out off nine balls in the World T20 Semi-Final, as if nine balls is a great sample size!

I´d like to be told how exactly was MS or his innings at fault for the semi-final defeat? Those of you who´re after him for batting slowly, do you even realise how foolish it would´ve looked on his part if he had taken a risk and got out, whilst Jadeja was going berserk at the other end? Would you´ve forgiven him if he´d left Jadeja alone to bat alongside the tail-enders in the middle of a partnership which looked great to be winning the match altogether? We can all talk about taking calculated risks all day, but do you realise that it just takes one bad shot, mistimed or mis-hit, and the innings is done for you, and the tail would´ve been left to partner Jadeja? At least I would´ve been very disappointed if he´d done that.

Australia´s Carey is a prime example here. He has been one of the stars of the tournament. A revelation if you like. Battled the initial collapse beautifully with Smith in the Semi-Final when they were 14/3 at one stage. Stitched together a brilliant partnership with Smith. Australia looked on course to be getting a total around 260, or even over perhaps. He played a terrible shot, was caught at deep mid-wicket, Australia collapsed to 222. And mind you, he still had Maxwell and Stoinis to come, yet the shot proved to be the turning point of the match. We can make it simple and ask both Smith and Jadeja: did Smith prefer Carey´s shot or did Jadeja prefer MS minimising every risk at the other end? In fact, leave this comparison aside and let Jadeja be the judge: how relieved was he that he was batting with a partner at the other end who almost carried a guarantee of not getting out (given the number of wickets lost), or did he feel being put under pressure by MS´ slow scoring rate? I think you´ll have your answer! Returning to the point about taking calculated risks towards the last few overs. Jadeja´s innings in times of quality and value was miles, miles ahead of MS´ innings, but remember that the moment the last five overs started, MS right away became the more key wicket of the two, simply because he has a greater hitting ability, on papers at least, and has finished matches for India time and time again batting with the lower-order or the tail, whereas Jadeja has hardly ever done that. So it became all the more important for MS to have not preferred to take risks and to have left it to Jadeja, especially given that that had been the plan working for them throughout the partnership.

As for slow scoring, a former Indian cricketer even put the blame on MS for Pandya´s shot, implying that MS´ slow scoring put pressure on him. So let me get this straight: Pandya, who himself had made 32 off 62 deliveries by that stage, felt being under pressure to go for his shots because of MS?! Does that even make sense? What I gather is that Steve Smith is allowed to make 85 off 119 balls, Carey too can get away with a 46 off 70 balls, Williamson is louded for his 67 off 95, Taylor is praised for his 74 off 90 balls, both Pant and Pandya are allowed to scrap through to 32 each off 56 and 62 balls respectively, but MS isn´t allowed to make 50 off 72 even when the team found itself at 71/5 and then finally at 92/6 at one stage.

Another rather striking thing here is the favouritsm in the media and amongst the former cricketers and experts. All in unison have expressed the thought that Pant should be forgiven for his horrible shot (and Pandya too) because of him being young, naïve and inexperienced. I don´t oppose this, and it´s a noble and quite a romantic thought, but when was the last time when an Indian batsman got so much leniency despite playing such a poor shot at such a crucial stage? Was Dhoni forgiven for his failure in the Indian Oil Cup Final and then the TVS Cup Final back in 2005, when he had been playing only since half a year? Was he forgiven for his mindless shot in the Mumbai Test Match 2006? Was he forgiven for playing a stupid shot of Brett Lee in an ODI in Malaysia in 2006, despite it being a big no-ball? Was MS not grilled for his slow start against the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, despite having fully made up for it later in the innings to have allowed India to get a fighting total? Were people not asking for his head following the first-round exit in the ODI World Cup 2007? I tell you, he WAS NOT! So why this special sympathy for Pant (and also Pandya)? A lot of these very experts questioned his technique and also his commitment for the national team altogether!

Now, people are even blaming him for not batting up the order himself, totally overlooking that Kohli is the captain of the team. As a senior member of the side, to give inputs whenever asked by the captain, or to give ideas with regards to whom to bowl or where the fielders should be placed is entirely different to saying that "Send me up the order!" in a world cup semi-final, when the coach, the batting consultant, captain and the whole team management has made up its mind to assign to you a role to bat lowest down the order - not lower, but lowest of all the recognised batsmen. In fact, Manjrekar pointed out a scene in his analysis during the semi-final itself, where MS voiced his thought with regards to what line and length to bowl, and Kohli shook his head in negation. MS immediately walked back to his keeping position. So it doesn´t work like that, unless of course you´re hell-bent on blaming him for everything that goes wrong. In fact, I´d be the first one to criticise him for batting so low if it comes out one day that they all wanted him to bat higher up the order but he himself refused to do so. Also, for those who´re ready to blame him by accepting that he chooses the batting order, do they also praise him for example for sending Pandya up the order in a couple of games where he batted really well? So you can´t have both ways!

India didn´t lose because of MS or his slow batting, neither did they necessarily lose because of him not batting up the order. It was a strategic miss by all means, but it just takes one good ball or a bad shot for a batsman to get out, and this could very well have happened. India lost because they did not have another MS in the team batting in the middle-order. One more batsman with a calm head like him and the ability to soak up the pressure, and the match was India´s all the way.

If this was his last international appearance, if he retires now or gets dropped, so be it. I´ll take it. I take pride in the fact that he was only one of the two batsmen on one of the biggest stages of cricket, who were willing to play for the team and fought tooth and nail to get their team over the line. We can call him Mr. Cool all that we want to, but pressure does take toll on everyone. The moment India lost early wickets, he knew right away that this match could well come down to him. He was hardly seated even for a minute. Walking to and fro, checking and examining his bat, its wood again and again. He knows, he knew that the blame of a loss will ultimately fall on his shoulders. It was a sad sight to witness in a sense. However, again, if this turns out to be his last match, it just defines his career and his value to the team. Fighting a collapse, stitching together a partnership and then requiring to score at almost an impossible rate with the tail. Many he won, many he lost, but it would ultimately be his dismissal which would decide the match, and so indeed it happened. For a great part of his career, Tendulkar would be India´s first and the last hope. Dhoni wasn´t the first hope of course, but often he was India´s last hope. I take pride in this and move on in life! I know he tried, he gave it his best shot on Wednesday, and that´s what matters to me. It never mattered to me beyond that.

I never thought that my post will end up being so prophetic! Stokes´ innings in the Final yesterday proved right every word of my post. Unbelievable! The only difference here obviously being that, whereas Guptill´s hit the stumps to run out MS on Wednesday, his throw yesterday found Stokes´ bat to then roll all the way to the boundary. The difference was very little otherwise, but Stokes has made it to the history books of course. "Luck" is the keyword here.