Monday, June 15, 2009

MSD bowled by Tactics

After all the hype created about Team Indian; with the advantage of IPL experience and a young brigrade, Team India failed to re create the magic of 2007 as they crashed out of the World T20. As Harsha Bhogle mentioned-"Team India tend to do well when they are the underdogs". The champions tag does not quite help!
Although very much disappointed at the defeat and very unhappy with the performance; I would abstain from lamblasting the technique, temparament or effort. I think tactical faults caused much damage than anything else. It was quite uncharactersitic of MSD to get beaten on tactics. Time and again MSD has been spot on with tactics-choice of team, batting order etc. But he was clearly out of sorts in at least the last two games. In the hind sight it is very easy to point the failure of Ravindra Jadeja at no. 3. But I would be totally rubbish to start questioning his ability or passion for the country. But even as he was sent in at no. 3, the situation was not at all i comfortable-in terms of run rate, the pressue being put by disciplined England bowling. And, hence it made all the more sense to stick with Yuvraj. MSD thought of "preserving" him for the end; but it was too late for Yuvraj when he came in to bat. He missed the point that it is only a 20 over game and it hurts dearly when someone is not able to put bat to ball. All sympathy for Jadeja but clearly he was at not the one to blame. Also, against the WI, MSD promoted himself up the order only to waste precious balls and later on it was evident that those wasted balls made all the difference. 
It is always dishearting when Team India lose but it becomes all the more painful when simple options are given way to complex decisions.