Indian Side Humiliated by Zimbabwe in Tri-Series
They were supposed to be the most energetic side of the Tri-Series, but after consecutive losses to the weaker of the two oppositions, the Indian youngsters have proved they are not as good as they were deemed to be. They managed to defeat Sri Lanka in their second match, but on either side of the victory, they have two losses that prove that Zimbabwe is way better than the Indians.
The problem is not with the Indian players, but with the selectors who failed to consider for a second that doing well in the Indian Premier League does not necessarily mean that the players would do well internationally. Unlike the domestic cricket structure of Australia, South Africa and even England, India’s premier domestic season is miles away from international standards, where the earnings might be high, but the quality isn’t.
What else would you call a tournament where master pacer Glenn McGrath fails to make it to the final XI because of the illogical 4-foreigners-a-side rule? Or where the (then) World Champion Pakistani players are not auctioned because of security issues? Lalit Modi’s removal as IPL chief has also brought a question mark over the win of the inaugural event, where the Rajasthan Royals, a team backed by Modi, were declared the IPL 2008 Champions.
Despite the bad showing of the men in blue in two consecutive Twenty20 World Cups, the Indian selectors didn’t realize that the IPL is damaging Indian cricket. They again chose a group of youngsters and made Suresh Raina, the most undeserving of them all, their skipper. Whenever the players fail to run out a batsman, whenever there’s a misfield, Raina’s reactions show his incompetence at its worst! He shouts, whines and even blames his fielders when it is he who should be blamed. It was he who failed to inform the umpires of a Powerplay that he intended to take against Sri Lanka, thinking that the umpires might have telepathic powers!
The first loss to Zimbabwe in the Tri-Series was labelled by Indian media as a good effort by a young side, but the second consecutive loss will trigger a reaction that is only reserved for losses in bigger events. It was a listless India who received their second mauling in a week at the hands of hosts Zimbabwe, who are trying to make an impression, and doing one h**l of a job. They crushed Suresh Raina’s team by seven wickets at the Harare Sports Club ground to improve their chances of reaching the June 9 final.
They might be without their top 8 players, but Rohit Sharma and Yusuf Pathan are there who are usually brilliant when the going isn’t tough. Rohit Sharma cracked two centuries in the ongoing series, while Yusuf Pathan has so far not been able to do well in international cricket, despite being a hit in IPL. When the going gets tough for the Indian side, it is these two who are usually the ones who chicken out first, and that is exactly what happened in the shock repeat of the tournament opener where India faltered in all three departments of the game, only to suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of a side that might be new, but is more determined.
It was only due to Ravindra Jadeja’s half century that the Indians managed to crawl to 194 for nine in 50 overs. Jadeja's 72-ball 51 down the order was the only significant score, and sadly, he was the only one to impress while bowling as well, taking 2 for 27 off 7 overs. Chasing 195 to win, the hosts cashed in on a steady start and cruised to 197 with 7 wickets and more than 11 overs to spare, sending India to their first back-to-back defeat against them.
Openers Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza were the architects of the win, as they added 128 runs for the first wicket (Brendan made a total of 74 runs, and Masakadza scored 66), and were instrumental in helping their side bag five points from the match, including a bonus point. Brendan Taylor was declared the Man of the Match. The hosts now have nine points from three matches and if India loses their last match against Sri Lanka on Saturday, their departure for home will be confirmed. If they win, they will have to wait for the outcome of Sri Lanka’s match against the hosts on Monday, and hope luck favours them for a place in the final.
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