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India is deemed as the hub of Twenty20 cricket. But for the third consecutive T20 World Cup, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys have failed to crack the semifinals code. Though India won four of the five matches in the latest edition of the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, they went wrong in their arithmetic and gameplan to run aground, on the basis of a lower net run rate, compared to Pakistan and Australia, in the last Super 8 league match.
Though Dhoni seems to have made a few tactical mistakes, but it was the failure of the top batting order and some blundering bowling mistakes that did India in. Even Virat Kohli, who has had a dream run otherwise, failed to perform in the crucial game against South Africa, to confound Dhoni's problems. The Indian players seems not to have yet fully grasped the nuances of the T20 format, as some of the changes made in the team, and the bowling changes effected in the World Cup, defied logic. India are familiar with the foreign players, and four of the Indian team members have had the added advantage of captaining the IPL teams - an advantage no other team could boast of. But either Dhoni did not use the experience and variety at his command in the manner it should have been. And Dhoni, very uncharacteristically, even blamed rains for India's defeat against Australia — their only loss in the championship
After Pakistan beat Australia earlier in the day, India faced the daunting task of beating South Africa by 32 runs or more, or restricting them to a score of 121. Pakistan had fielded five spinners against Australia, and 18 of the total overs were bowled by their spinners. But Dhoni took the field on the same pitch with only one regular spinner in R. Ashwin! Harbhajan should have been there in for this match, but he was overlooked. Dhoni relied on three pacers to subdue South Africa, but the ploy did not work. Zaheer, Irfan and Balaji could not create the desired impact. Yet, India seemed to be very much on course for a place in the semis when early strikes by Zaheer and Irfan reduced South Africa to 2 for 21in 4 overs. At this point, Dhoni should have tightened the noose by effecting bowling changes, but he persisted with Zaheer and Irfan, as the bowlers gave away 11 and 14 runs, respectively, in their third over, to negate the advantage India had gained. Yuvraj Singh was brought on only in the seventh over, and he got rid of De Villiers with the very first ball, reviving India's hopes. But Dhoni again bungled when he brought on part-time bowler Rohit Sharma, who gave away 13 runs, including a six, as India's semifinals hopes receded. Aswhin was introduced only in the 10th over, and Balaji was brought in only in the 12th over. By then, the game had slipped out of India's hands. Had Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli put on a big score on the board, India would have gone far ahead of the 150-odd runs they posted, giving the bowlers a cushion to bowl at the opposition. In fact, Pakistan and Australia also contributed to India's exit as their clash against each other looked like a pre-planned contest to keep India out by any means. A win for the Aussies would have smoothened India's path for a slot in the semifinals. But the Aussies did their best to aid Pakistan, by spilling catches, and giving away runs. But Dhoni's men still could have pulled it off, as when they took the field, they knew exactly what they had to do. If Dhoni has to be crucified, the blame must be shared by other senior players like Sehwag and Gambhir as well, though Sehwag has reason to feel upset that he was "requested" to sit out of the match against Australia, rather unfairly. Dhoni, as the leader of the group, should shoulder a greater share of the blame, though it is unfair on the part of his detractors to seek his ouster as captain from all three formats of the game.
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