How did a team which was expected to score 300 collapse at 111? Inside story of India’s defeat against South Africa

“The pitch of Ahmedabad was different. The players understood quickly and changed their game. Especially in the middle overs, the partnership of David Miller and Dewald Brewis turned the match. The team left the ego and concentrated on taking the score forward with single-doubles and that proved to be the difference. The bowlers, especially Lungi Ngidi, performed brilliantly… These are the words of South African captain Aiden Markram, who ended India’s winning streak of 12 consecutive matches in the T-20 World Cup.

What happened on the night of 22 February in the packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad shocked crores of Indians. Team India, playing at home, in its first match of Super-8, while chasing the target of 188 runs set by South Africa, collapsed for just 111 runs in 18.5 overs. Neither the sun’s shine was visible, nor Ishaan Kishan Sixes… Neither the form of Tilak Verma was visible, nor the impact of Washington Sundar… The result was that the lions of the house lost in their own den.

Read this also:After the defeat in Super-8, the real weakness of Team India came to the fore, will Sanju Samson get a chance in the playing-11 in place of Abhishek Sharma?

What did Suryakumar Yadav say on the defeat?

indian captain Suryakumar Yadav Admitted that the match got lost in the power play itself. He said that while chasing a target of more than 180 runs, the match is not won in the power play, but it can definitely be lost there… and India made the same mistake. Due to the fall of early wickets the team was not able to make small partnerships. However, he praised the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh and said that the team will bounce back after learning from the mistakes.

How did the match turn from India’s hands?

• Against India, bowl off-spin in the beginning and wait for the mistake… South Africa came up with the same plan and captain Aiden Markram, while handling the new ball, showed the way to the pavilion to Ishan Kishan in the very first over. Kishan was in great form. His going to 0 proved to be a big blow for India. After that, Tilak Verma was dismissed by Marco Jansen in the very next over and India was put on the back foot.
• The same pattern was seen in the previous matches also. Sometimes Aiden Markram, sometimes other part-time spinners, all shocked India in the initial overs. India remained busy in the match-up, but Plan B was not visible. On the other hand, David Miller and Dewald Brewis started the counter-attack, taking control of the team from the position of 20/3. Especially by attacking Varun Chakraborty he changed the course of the match.
• The questions on India’s team combination increased further, because the lack of a bowler with control like Axar Patel sitting on the bench was clearly visible. Washington Sundar was played because of the left-handers, but as soon as de Kock and Rickelton were out, the strategy backfired. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also could not tighten his grip on the game at that time. Although Jasprit Bumrah prevented the score from crossing 200 with his brilliant bowling of 3/15, 187 also proved to be a big target.
• After the match, Miller clearly said that if Varun’s ball was not rotating much, then the plan was to attack relying on the line.
• From India’s side, Tilak Verma returned to the pavilion after scoring just 1 run. His slow strike rate is already under question.
• Washington Sundar was sent at number five in place of Akshar Patel, but he was out after scoring just 11 runs. Due to this the pressure completely came on India.
• India could score only 31 runs after losing 3 wickets in the powerplay. This proved to be the turning point of the match.
• Keshav Maharaj changed the course of the match by showing the way to the pavilion to Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and Arshdeep Singh in a single over.
• Shivam Dubey definitely played an inning of 42 runs in 36 balls, but he did not get anyone’s support from the other end. Three Indian players could not even open their accounts. Only 5 players could cross the double figures.

Why were cricket pundits surprised by Team India’s performance?

Cricket pundits are surprised to see the same team which was expected to score 300 runs before the start of the T-20 World Cup, collapsed for 111 runs. The batsman who was expected to have a long innings, did not open his account in three matches and in the fourth match he was able to score only 15 runs. Now the eyes are on the next match, where there is talk of change in the team. Will right-handed batsmen get a chance in place of left-handers who are struggling with poor form? Sanju Samson’s name is gaining momentum because if the strategy is not changed, the next team may also try the same trick.