This cup is not ours

Sunny Rajan

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Two matches’ one win and one tie, the biggest claimant of the 2011 Cricket World Cup has fallen apart. The batsmen have played their part, Master and the Blaster have devastated the opponents attack, even Yuvi is coming to the terms, but still I am sure “this cup is not ours.”

After 599 legitimate balls that have excited the every soul in the world the result was a tie. 338 were enough to win a match, if on other day orange were given such score the Englishmen could have fallen apart. But on Sunday they were their, only to blame them for the tie.

Their was a grin on the England players when India has finished their first inning, that reflects their attitude; for sure they have concluded ‘the match is in their grasp.’ With Bangalore Pitch easing it out for the batsmen even 350 could have been chased. But still half the game was to be played at that point and with anything excess of 300 the psychological balance is always their with the team bowling second. Still they have the belief in them, but what made them think so; the pitch, Indian bowling attack, Indian fielders or they have the confident in their batting line up. To be more accurate it was the combination of all.

From start Indian bowler were wavered, though lot was expected from Zaheer but he didn’t delivered until his 8th over. The fiasco was relevant on spinner’s faces, Bell and Strauss were toiling them and were scoring runs at their will. Bell never though for a second while playing paddle sweep, he might have been a good candidate for leg before, buy not on that day and for sure with that bowling attack. He continued playing that shot and scored 26 runs by paddling the ball fine.

Chawla is becoming a real curious case for Team India, in warm up games he resembles Warne. With his accurate line and length, he mesmerized everyone in the park but at M Chinnaswamy Stadium his googly spun more than his leg spin. Bowling the second last over and that to at a crucial time he conceded two sixes and was the culprit for the tie.

What if Bangalore pitch has to offer some help to the spinner, than for sure Indian spinners could have come handy. First Indian is the best when it comes down to play spin and for England they are always uncanny while playing spin, instead they are a good sweeper (English player don’t use their feet to spinner they just sweeps), so if that could have been the case, mental stiffness has shifted the balance into our favor. Indian Team Management has missed a trick. The World Cup could have been won even before first ball have been bowled, but now I am worried a bit about their chances. Mr. Curator now you can help us. Just prepare a pitch that has something for the spinner and rest Bhajji and co have to do.

The home support for our team is always phenomenal with thousands of supporters cheering for Team India, can empower anyone to come out of their skin and play at their strength. But there I always felt our supporters are nihilistic.When we are playing well they are the most fearsome supporters in the World, but what if they are down? Same was seen in the Bangalore match, when Strauss and Bell were going well you can hear the humming of the bees, everything was quite. We call it a sophisticated approach which has negativity attached to it; for supporters, always remain optimistic you never know what is next.

Till now Australian’s have performed as if they are here for fifth time. Australian have a poor form off late but when it comes to World Cup their hunger grows. Behind them is ever unpredictable Pakistan, But i fear about their fielding, it can let them down. For Indians their bowlers have let them down and their chance for the 1983 glory is gone.

You can’t win World Cup relying only on the batsmen and if this is the case than “the cup is not ours.”