What a tournament it was for Team India. Like a friend said, we came from "We won't get to the semifinals" to "HOW DID WE MESS THAT UP? HOW?" Speaks volumes, doesn't it? Before everyone gets into IPL mode, here are what fellow Twitter people had to share about the tournament. Enjoy!
Anand Natarajan [@aThakkali]
I would have ideally loved to have written this happily from the winner’s corner rather than with a team which after threatening to kayo all opposition finished with the silver medal in the just concluded World T20 in Bangladesh. While admitting to not being too sold on the shortest version of International Cricket, I do follow it like any other fan especially if it is a Nation vs Nation tournament. And hence a sense of disappointment aired in the opening lines of this note. Looking back there were quite a few positives to come out of the tournament.
Firstly India reinforced that they are a powerhouse in the subcontinent and the only competition to this team is possibly and equally endowed team from the subcontinent, Sri Lanka in this case. What happens when this team travels to England and in longer formats is a debate which I postpone to a later date. Secondly, and this is not restricted by any geography, is the reconfirmation of the fact that the next batting superstar from India is well and truly underway to dominate all bowling in the years to come. No points for guessing that
I refer to Virat Kohli who is likely to become the ‘prized wicket’ in the decades to follow. Thirdly, whether it was the pitches or the confidence shown in him or simply the belting he received at the hands of M S Dhoni during practice or a combination of all these, Amit Mishra yet again staked his claim to be the best leggie in India at the moment and by a mile. A large heart comes as an asset if you have to do what Mishi did in the tourney, attack and look for wickets and not be overtly bothered by an odd boundary or two. Finally, the reincarnation of Ravichandran Ashwin as a wicket taking weapon. I am not given to going overboard but that Hashim Amla ball was indeed magic. That his wicket taking led to drop in economy rate was but an expected collateral benefit. Despite the loss in the final the team looks fairly balanced to win in the subcontinent and compete well abroad.The reaction post the defeat in the finals was unexpected to say the least. That people should resort topelting stones at Yuvraj Singh’s house shows that juvenility is still very much in vogue in the country.
Yuvraj Singh is easy target, an identifiable scapegoat. Objectively speaking even his diehard fans would readily admit that he has been off colour for some time now and should have ideally been dropped after the first or second league game. That he was played speaks volumes of the misplaced confidence the team management reposed on him. The most disturbing feature for me throughout the tournament though was the Captain. It was visible to the whole world except M S D that Yuvraj was struggling and like hell. Admittedly reposing faith on a struggling player is part of his role, winning for the team is his
primary one and MSD was found wanting on this count by backing past performance than present form.
Not dropping Yuvi, not changing the batting order to give an inform Suresh Raina a larger opportunity or promoting himself in the final ahead of Suresh Raina who has been at his fluent best in the tourney, preferring Mohit Sharma over Mohammad Shami………..many of these moves belies logic. While one may point out to similar cases in the past, Ishant and CT13 comes to mind, one feels it is time to remind the Captain that he is playing Cricket and not poker.
If the above lines give you the impression that I am nitpicking, let me assure you I am not. For it was evident to all of us, Sri Lanka bowled possibly the best death overs seen in a long long time. Don’t forget they reduced Dhoni to a strokeless wonder and denied Virat Kohli the strike. They looked hungrier too given the additional incentive to “do it Sangakkara and Jayawardene”. Reminds us Indian so much about a similar evening at Wankhede on 2nd April 2011!
Rishabh Gupta [@rishabhism]
What a tournament this has been for Team India. Barring the final, in which everything went against us, this was undoubtedly one of the most dominating performances by team India in an ICC tournament.
Well, the team has given us a numerous unforgettable moments throughout the World T20, whether it's our very own Mishraji tormenting the batting line-ups in the group stages, a slight glimpse of the old Yuvraj against the Aussies, or Virat... wait, do I need to say anything about this man?
But one moment that tops the list for me is *that* Ashwin delivery to Hashim Amla in the semi-final. Pitching way outside the leg stump, the ball just flings it way through the off stump, and there you go, BOOM!
You see, it wasn't a conventional Ashwin spin. Something which you never usually expect from any off-spinner, let alone Ashwin. And that makes the moment more special. As Gilly rightly said, 'T20 ball of the century'. Indeed.
Daniel Armstrong [@StumpdOffaWide]
The recetly concluded wt20, was a bag full of surprises. From associates punching above their weight to the tournament favourites, Australia fighting for the wooden spoon with the hosts, the tournament was unpredictable. The tounament had the spark in most of the games except the boring one-sided games India played. So far over five editions the wt20 has had five different winners and goes on to show how t20 games cannot be predicted.
There were quite a few moments which were a delight to the cricket lover, throughout the tournament. Halestorm, the West Indians performig the gangnam, Netherland's blitz vs the Irish, Ashwin playing carrom with the best strikers of the cricket ball, sensational death bowling by Steyn, Malinga at different stages of the tournament and Glenn Maxwell being Australia's only saving grace in another mediocre tournament for the men from down under.
Two out of these stand out for me, being a huge fan of the lanky offie, Ashwin's carroms and the Dutch performance on the whole.
ORANGE NATION
No one expected them to qualify for the Super 10s, they were placed in a group with Zimbabwe and Ireland. But they did, and emphatically. To chase down 190 odd in 13 odd overs is not easy for the likes of Virat Kohli even, irrespective of the bowling attack but Stefan Myburgh and Tommy Cooper did it like they do it everyday. The Irish were left all tattered. And then started the Dutch fairytale, not before a miserable show against Chandimal's men. They held South Africa right till the very end, only to choke at the fag end of the chase, they made the Kiwis to earn a win with some good bowling. Then came one of the match of the tournaments for me. A repeat of Lord's '09. The English bottled again by the Dutch, only saving grace for the English was that it wasn't home for them, like their previous defeat vs the men in orange. That one-sided win, capped an impeccable three weeks for the Dutch in Bangladesh. These guys could be giant killers in the tournaments to come.
PLAYING CARROM WITH TOP STRIKERS
Ravichandran Ashwin raised a few eyebrows when he was persisted by skipper MS Dhoni after a poor showing over the last few months. Going into the tournament, no one expected him to perform like he did. He kept firing those carrom balls around the wicket to right handers and it zipped like a leg spinner and earned him some priced scalps in Maxwell, Finch, Francois du plessis, AB de Villiers. Adam Gilchrist even went on to call his ball that got Hashim Amla out as T20 ball of the century. He ended the tournament with eleven wickets at the expense of just 120 odd runs going at about 5 to the over. He also raised the eyebrows in the pressers with his comments with the long sleeves used by other spinners.
Oindrila Chakrabarti [@TheDreamyMiss]
2014 T20 WC was a tournament one would love to remember & wince everytime he does.
It took us close. Painfully close. & then snatched it away.
The finals will certainly not be one of the fond memories for an Indian fan.
The semifinals, however must be everyone's favourite!
The bat of Virat Kohli, the strokes he played against a quality Protea attack, the composure, the way he chased, the way it achieved. Mercurial.
The Ashwin delivery to Hashim Amla, as well, will stay a while in the happy memories!
Another great bit was the quality of a tournament Amit Mishra had after being benched for so long. And it was good to see an out of favour Suresh Raina striking the ball sweetly.
Paridhi Srivastava [@BeingKohlicious ]
After watching India’s overseas performances in South Africa and New Zealand, almost no one has expected that India would ever perform incredibly brilliant in WT20. But, it surely came as a surprise for us. And India dominated the tourney with becoming the ‘title favorites’.
The whole tournament was full of surprises, barring the finals. The most impressive moment for me was our ‘bowling departmentt.’ As got the ‘weakest bowling attack’ tag, it was because of bowlers we got the semis berth. Spinners were absolutely brilliant. Leggie Amit Mishra was playing his dream tournament this time. And like Ashwin, he’s also turning out to be a ‘trump card’ for MS Dhoni. And that googly by Mishra to dismiss Anamul Haque was a beauty of a delivery…
Ravi Ashwin’s, as per Gilly ‘ball of the century’ to dismiss in form Amla, I still can’t get out of that. What a ball was that! After long time, I witnessed Bhuvi’s in swingers in power plays.
And about Virat’s golden form…I am literally speechless. I don’t get any words to describe his batting. In fact, no one has any words left to describe his performance. He’s going through a golden phase of his career. As Gilly said ‘be it any department bat/bowl/field, whatever Virat touches, turns into GOLD’. Its cent percent true. Good to see that Raina also hit the bowlers nicely in the tourney. Disappointed with Yuvi’s performance in the whole tournament despite 60 off 43 balls against Australia.
All in one a great and fruitful ICC tournament for us. India really wanted a tournament like this to regain momentum of winning matches. And it worked for us. Hoping more of such performances by our men in blue in near future.
Paridhi Srivastava [@BeingKohlicious ]
After watching India’s overseas performances in South Africa and New Zealand, almost no one has expected that India would ever perform incredibly brilliant in WT20. But, it surely came as a surprise for us. And India dominated the tourney with becoming the ‘title favorites’.
The whole tournament was full of surprises, barring the finals. The most impressive moment for me was our ‘bowling departmentt.’ As got the ‘weakest bowling attack’ tag, it was because of bowlers we got the semis berth. Spinners were absolutely brilliant. Leggie Amit Mishra was playing his dream tournament this time. And like Ashwin, he’s also turning out to be a ‘trump card’ for MS Dhoni. And that googly by Mishra to dismiss Anamul Haque was a beauty of a delivery…
Ravi Ashwin’s, as per Gilly ‘ball of the century’ to dismiss in form Amla, I still can’t get out of that. What a ball was that! After long time, I witnessed Bhuvi’s in swingers in power plays.
And about Virat’s golden form…I am literally speechless. I don’t get any words to describe his batting. In fact, no one has any words left to describe his performance. He’s going through a golden phase of his career. As Gilly said ‘be it any department bat/bowl/field, whatever Virat touches, turns into GOLD’. Its cent percent true. Good to see that Raina also hit the bowlers nicely in the tourney. Disappointed with Yuvi’s performance in the whole tournament despite 60 off 43 balls against Australia.
All in one a great and fruitful ICC tournament for us. India really wanted a tournament like this to regain momentum of winning matches. And it worked for us. Hoping more of such performances by our men in blue in near future.
Vipul Yadav [@Sporty_Baba]
We were placed in a very tough group. West Indies were the defending Champions, Pakistan had the best bowling line-up and Australia were tipped by many as the favorites. We still managed to breeze through the group with a 100% win record
Amit Mishra was a revelation. A lot of modern day batsmen are not used to playing quality leg spin bowling and very few spinners actually flight the ball in the shortest format. Mishra delivered on both counts .Facing him in WT20 matches was not easy. He ran through every side in group matches whenever he was given his full quota of overs.
Yuvraj was clearly struggling. His innings against WI was painful. He had a good outing against Australia but then he went back to struggling against SA and was brutally exposed against some quality depth bowling by Sri Lankans in the Final. I still think it was a fatal mistake by Dhoni to send Yuvraj over himself & Raina. Raina is probably one of the best T20 players in sub-continent conditions. Sending a completely out of sorts Yuvraj Singh over him made no sense whatsoever.
Kohli went on from strength to strength in this WT20. The chase against SA was planned to perfection. That innings was a masterclass in how to keep the scoreboard ticking. He kept the NRR in check without taking a lot of risk. Ashwin had a very good WT20 as well. That ball with which he got Amla out will be talked about for a long long time. It was sad that Mishra could not deliver in the Semis and Finals after his performance in the group matches.
Overall, it was a great Cricketing tournament and massive success for ICC. The Netherlands incredibly chased down 190 in under 14 overs and then went on to embarrass England. The celebrations of West Indian players after their win over Aussies had that unforgettable “take that” Gangnam style payback for all the crap talk that happened from Faulkner in the build-up.
Sri Lanka bowled well in depth throughout the tournament and that touched the zenith when it mattered most in the final. The Final was a fitting end to Sanga and Mahela’s T20 career. It was an anti-climax for Indian team for whom the entire tournament was a smooth ride till the loss in the Final. Sri Lankan fans have experienced “so close yet so far” feeling way to often in ICC tournaments. For once, their team won a big ICC event Final to send that beautiful small island into delirium.
The next WT20 will be in India. It promises to be one big party. To make it sure that I make the most of it, I plan to take the Indian flag and travel across the country to support the Indian team with my North Stand Gang of Wankhede. :)
If you have memories to share, mail us at oindrilarjun@gmail.com! We will keep this one updated. :)
