#WontGiveItBack
was the caption with which our World Cup campaign was promoted on Star Sports
India & other Social Media platforms. We played fierce, competitive & ruthless
Cricket throughout the World Cup winning 7 out of 7 games. Our form prior to
the World Cup was poor to say the least. We were not able to win a single game
in the entire Australian Tour which consisted of 4 Tests followed by a
Tri-Series involving England. Leave alone Australia Indian Team was even
defeated by England twice in the Tri-Series which was a major concern for all
Indian Cricket lovers.
To make matter worse for Indian
Teams & its fans our opening encounter in the World Cup was with our
archrivals Pakistan against whom we enjoyed a winning record of “5-0” in World
Cups. After looking at India’s performance against Australia & England
plenty of fans even made statements like “Forget the World Cup just win against
Pakistan and it will be like winning World Cup for us”. Finally historical day
arrived on a glorious Sunday on 15th Feb 2015 at Adelaide & Team
India really played like champs to defeat Pakistan convincingly. Fans were
ecstatic & post match celebrations were of the nature as if India has
already won the World Cup. Even I celebrated by drinking two bottles of
Budweiser (My loyal Brand of Beer).
Virat Kohli scored a swashbuckling
century along with Mohammad Shami who picked up 4 Pakistani wickets were heroes in India’s victory against Pakistan. India’s next match was against the
strong South African side who were considered as tournament favorites along
with Australia. However Team India floored the Proteas at the Packed MCG
courtesy brilliant hundred by Shikhar Dhawan & classy 79 by Ajinkya Rahane
which allowed India to post 307. Chasing this huge target South Africa folded
out for 177 due to some brilliant bowling by R.Ashwin who claimed 3 South African
wickets & some spectacular fielding added to South African downfall.
Team India
made an easy meal of minnows UAE in their next encounter before making a heavy
weather of the mediocre Target of 182 set by West Indies in their next match at
Perth. Captain Cool Mahindra Singh Dhoni in partnership with his CSK Teammate
Ravichandran Ashwin guided India to an easy victory against the Team from Caribbean.
Having already qualified for the Quarter finals India’s next 2 encounters were
against the minnows Ireland & Zimbabwe. To retain their Number One position
in Group India needed to win both the games which they did in style. So as the
Group stage came to an end, Indian Fans who had written off Team India before
the tournament now started believing that Team India can defend the
World Cup Trophy.
Since India topped their group we
had a luxury of playing Bangladesh in quarter final. Bangladesh are no
pushovers and which team would know it better than India who were knocked out
of 2007 World Cup because of shock defeat by Bangladesh in group stages.
Bangladesh was playing some good cricket in World Cup & deserved to qualify
for the Knock-Outs. They beat England in a crucial game & also gave tough
fight to favorites New Zealand. #RiseOfTheTigers hashtag was justified and was
trending ferociously on Social Media platforms. However India in spite of being
in some trouble against the Tigers when they were reduced to 115/3 in 28 overs
managed to post 302 because of sublime hundred by Rohit Sharma. Target was too
much for Bangladesh and they were folded for 193 in 45 overs courtesy Umesh
Yadav’s 4 wicket haul.
After remaining unbeaten & claiming
70 wickets in 7 matches stage was set for a Semi-Final showdown against the
dangerous Aussies at SCG on 26th March. Whole India was on Holiday
to watch the match & it was Sea of Blue at SCG as if it was a home game for
India. Many Cricket pundits were of the opinion that India can beat Australia
because of their current form. Even Aussies were a bit nervous going into the
match. However, Australia displayed a clinical performance and shattered the
dreams of millions of Indians as they thrashed India by 95 Runs. Batting first
Australia riding on brilliance of Steven Smith & Aaron FInch posted a mammoth
target of 328. Chasing 329 despite of a solid opening partnership of 76 in (12.5 Overs)
Indian batsman crumbled under pressure & India were bowled out for 233. So
the journey of World Champions finally came to a halt at Sydney on 26th
March 2015.
It was a journey full of some
beautiful memories which will remain with Indian fans forever. From Rohit &
Shikhar’s batting to consistent fast bowling by Umesh, Shami & Mohit, Indian
fans enjoyed every bit of the action. Shikhar Dhawan & Ajinkya Rahane’s
batting & R.Ashwin’s classical Off-Spin bowling at MCG will surely remain
in the minds of 87,000 odd supporters who were at MCG for a long time. Virat’s historical
century against Pakistan, Raina & Dhoni’s match winning partnership against
Zimbabwe to Rohit Sharma’s classic of 137 against Bangladesh. Team India has
given lots of great memories for Indian fans to cherish.
However one bad game at SCG and our
dream of retaining the most prestigious crown in the history of the game was
shattered. Lots of people have started criticizing the team after the loss at
Sydney but it’s more out of disappointment than frustration. However this is
the time when our Heroes need our support so it’s the duty of all Diehard
Indian Cricket Fans to support Team India who gave us so much to cheer in this
World Cup. Every team can have a bad day at the office and for Team India it
was unfortunately at SCG against the mighty Aussies. So we have to accept the
defeat & wish our team & captain success in future tournaments because
it is only the Game of Cricket which is worship by billions which unites India.
- Well Played
Team India
-We are Proud
of You
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