Gautam Gambhir’s astounding statement
Are Australia’s semi-final ambitions dashed with the setback to India? Gautam Gambhir offers a strong opinion.Australia’s ODI Cricket World Cup campaign began with a loss to hosts India, led by Pat Cummins. The Indian cricket team’s spin troika trapped the great Australians in a spin web when they could only manage 199 batting first. They were still in with a chance after dismissing three Indian hitters, including Rohit Sharma, in the first two overs. India could have been four down in the eighth over but for Mitchell Marsh’s costly miss.Josh Hazlewood surprised Virat Kohli with a short ball on the third ball of the over, which he top-edged. Mitchell Marsh dashed from mid-wicket but couldn’t hold on to the ball as the wicketkeeper approached. That dip eventually proved costly.Former India captain Gautam Gambhir believes Australia’s missed opportunity would cost them the World Cup.
“If India had been 10-4 or 20-4, they would have been under a lot of pressure.” With a hitter like Kohli out, India would have struggled to chase down the score. So, not only did Australia lose the match because of that dropped catch, but they may have also forfeited a place in the semi-finals,” Gambhir said.It’s possible that Australia won’t make it to the semifinals of the World Cup because of this missed catch, which makes the competition so competitive. The games Australia has left against the best teams will be must-win affairs after their defeat to India.”In the meantime, in the Indian team’s inaugural World Cup match against Australia, Virat Kohli unleashed his inner champion with a masterful 85 to steer them through rough waters and into a six-wicket triumph. While they were chasing a 200-run goal in 41.2 overs, Kohli found a reliable ally in the ultra-cool KL Rahul (97 not out off 115 balls) during their match-winning partnership of 165.
Following their return to the pavilion without bothering the scorers, three Indian top-order hitters formed a dubious partnership.However, India’s spinners share equal blame for their two points. When knocking the Australians out for 199 in 49.3 overs, Ravindra Jadeja (3/28 in 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav (2/42 in 10 overs), and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/34 in 10 overs) made their lives miserable.However, in the first three overs, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were sharp, walking back Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer for ducks, and the scoreboard showed a woeful 2/3.With a daring drive past bowler Hazlewood that was worth a million dollars, the bold Kohli, who makes Indian fans fall in love with him all over again, displayed the first signs of a comeback.Perceiving that the ball was not approaching the bat, Kohli, instead of staying anchored to the crease, gently moved his front foot over and displayed the entire face of the bat.
Even though India was still in danger, everything seemed normal at that moment. But it very easily could have been 4 for 12 in no time at all.
A running-in Mitchell Marsh missed his mark as the ball slid through his hand, but Kohli misplayed a pull shot off Hazlewood.
In such events, a little bit of luck is always necessary, as Skipper Rohit mentioned, and Marsh’s massive gaffe was just the cherry on top for the hosts at that particular moment.
Relieved that the target was not too high, Kohli and Rahul concentrated on reassembling the innings with singles and twos.
It was evidence of his fitness that, in his 116-ball knock, 61 of his runs came from singles and doubles.
He didn’t strike a boundary for almost 50 deliveries until Cameron Green’s military medium pace was applied; two of his paddles deliveries were mockingly nipped away.
Kohli hit a slow bouncer from Pat Cummins towards deep mid-wicket after he reached 50 off 75 balls.
During Kohli’s 70s batting innings, Starc struck him squarely on the helmet with a short delivery. A square-driven four two balls after a concussion test confirmed that “Batter Kohli” is a tough opponent to destabilise.
Hazlewood discovered Marnus Labuschagne after Kohli’s pull off when it appeared like he was coasting to his 48th ODI century.
