They came, They didn't play, They went!

BY APURVA RAI

IN sports when you play a match you are sure to get one winner and one loser. It is not possible to get either two winners or two losers. It is also not that the loser wanted to lose; in fact, both the teams play to win. So, at the end of the game while one team rejoices over its hard, good show and coordination the other team returns disappointed. 

Losing is very sad, disheartening and devastating. Once you lose there nothing but repentance over small mistakes that you could overcome but didn't. Crying over loss only proves your weakness; the strong ones take it sportingly, analyse the mistakes and learn how they can recover and come up with a fresh challenge and renewed energy. Losing does not give you a certificate of demerit, it actually reminds you where you lacked, what you didn't do but should have done.

Generally the losers are booed by the public but there are also times when the losers earn more respect than the winners. It is more important how you lost and under what circumstances. If you go down fighting you are all praise but if the team gives up then, of course, it has to face peoples' fury. 

Something similar happened at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 first semi final played between India and New Zealand on July 9. Team India, bubbling with past victories, confident of veteran players and cherished by a massive crowd at Old Trafford, Manchester, did not rise up to expectations. The tragic point is that the men in Blue themselves had not imagined that the show will be so poor.

The much-hyped first semi-final of cricket World Cup 2019 started well with New Zealand going to bat first. Everything was fine, the crowd was upbeat and both the teams played with all their might till the rain god intervened forcing the umpires to call it stumps. Next day, on July 10, the match recommences from where it was halted a day before. 

New Zealand innings was wrapped up at 239 for the loss of 8 wickets. Team India had 240 runs to chase. We have a reasonably good record in chasing even difficult more difficult targets but that day, perhaps, something else was destined to happen in Manchester. The Indian innings faltered right from the beginning despite a massive supportive crowd and loud cheers from fans who were present in abundance. The ladder to scale was not so high and Team India had done it umpteen times before. Sadly July 10 was not their day. The scoreboard which looked reachable now looked otherwise. 

Soon the stadium turns into a prayer ground where fan kept his fingers crossed.

Two players Ravindra Jadeja and former captain Mahanedra Singh Dhoni bring some rays of hope and the fans are once again up on their feet. The duo show strong determination with a record breaking 116 run partnership. Playing like a hero Jadeja scored 77 runs in 59 balls before returning to the pavillion.

Hopelessness descends all over the stadium as Dhoni is seen as the last saviour. Anxious fans cheer him and shout Dhoni-Dhoni. He has earned himself the reputation of being a responsible and capable batsman on the field and today was his last World Cup test. 

The bat didn't fire up and fell cold in the hands of Mr Cool, as Dhoni is known as. Dhoni too returns to the pavillion soon with 50 runs to his credit off 72 balls. Mahi would never have thought that 'The End' of his last World Cup innings would be so miserable.

Now the game was almost over leaving the fans disappointed as the bird in hand has flown away. 

 
The tailenders were a mere formality and the Indian innings summed up at 221 all out in 49.3 overs. India lost the match and its big hopes by a meagre 18 runs. 

The World Cup 2019 dream is shattered. 

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS?

One show comes to an end but another one begins. Heartburns are felt on social media, some murmur, some whisper while some are fearless, vocal and outspoken. The blame game has begun. Who is responsible for the defeat? Fans are not wrong in their analysis that winning was not impossible and the score not too big to chase had even one or two more guys let out their ire on the ball and sent it across the boundary more frequently. 

Second Opinion feels that the onus of defeat goes to Dinesh Karthik who faced crucial 25 balls to score shameful 6 runs

on board. The other guy is Mr Cool whose bat too remained cold to the aggression that was expected of him. Dhoni had a personal score of 50 runs in 72 balls. Again heartbreaking. India lost by a small margin of 18 runs and this was posisible in just about 10 to 12 balls. So much time and balls wasted. No responsible team would ever let it happen. 

DHONI A BIGGER DEFAULTER?

Of the two, Second Opinion, feels Dhoni's role is unpardonale. He was on the crease at a very crucial hour. He knew he was on sinking ship and that only he was capable of bringing it to the shores. He, on the other hand, didn't show any resolve or grit at any point of time that he is in a hurry to bring the game to a happy end, both for the country and for himself. Had Mahi played with the average of one run to a ball India would have found a berth in the Finals of the 2019 World Cup! Throughout the crucial period he was on the crease but let the bird in hand fly away. If only he had played a little faster and better the mood would have been different today.

Dhoni played too slow. He failed to pass on the pressure on to bowlers. Its is the sense of responsibility that makes you impatient on the field. The former Indian captain was not playing a 'Mohalla Cricket'; he was representing India at an international event of high repute where his restlessness and enthusiasm should have been of the same level. Alas, nothing like this was witnessed by the crowd in the stadium or the fans at home.

Defeat is part of any game and should be taken sportingly. What is important is how you go down. You are subjected to peoples' wrath when you give up or do not show your resolve that you are serious. A good fight and a good chase goes down in memory lanes even if you the results do not favour you. 

Many people are suggesting, and rightly so, that it is time now that Dhoni should hang his gloves. He has a better life waiting for him away from the crickett field. 

As for Team India it has to trudge with never-say-die attitude. There are many more World Cups lined up for future and few of them will definitely fall in our lap. Of, course lessons will have to be learnt from present and past mistakes.