Page 10 - Seniorstoday December 2022 Issue
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leaving Pakistan winners by a whopping because of rain. But when play resumed
180 runs. on the second day and with a target of 240
Playing out in the background of this to chase, the match looked tilted in India’s
debacle was the conflict between Captain favour.
Virat Kohli and chief coach Anil Kumble. The optimism was to be snuffed out
What had seemed a marriage made in within a few overs after the Indian innings
heaven crumbled very soon with Kohli began.
making known that it was either or In conditions favouring swing and seam
between him and Kumble. The BCCI went bowling, Matt Henry and Trent Boult
with the captain. The Champions Trophy prised out the Indian top order in double
was Kumble’s last assignment as coach. quick time. Rohit Sharma fell in the second
He was replaced by Ravi Shastri, brought over of the innings, Virat Kohli the third,
back after a year in the wilderness. The K L Rahul the fourth which more or less
Shastri-Kohli partnership continued for settled the issue in New Zealand’s favour.
6 years creating a magnificent legacy in M S Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja put up a
all formats, but failing to win any ICC brave rearguard fightback, but too much
tournament. had been lost earlier for the outcome to be
any different than a resounding defeat for
v New Zealand, Manchester, 2019 World India.
Cup semi-final, NZ 239-6, India 221, NZ
won by 18 runs. v Australia, Adelaide, 2020-21
Courtesy: ESPNcricinfo Courtesy ; Sky Sports
India’s progress in this World cup had In 2018, India had created history,
been according to expectations till the winning a first-ever Test series in
semi-final. Impressive victories over South Australia. Two years later, in the backdrop
Africa, Australia and Pakistan had marked of the Covid pandemic, the Indian team
Virat Kohli’s team as favourites for the was once again Down Under. What would
title. New Zealand were a hardy, consistent be the result this time?
team, but they were perennial also-rans, With Steve Smith and David Warner back
regularly making it to the semi-finals, after their one-year ban for ball tampering,
never beyond. Why would it be different Australia were at full strength. When the
this time? two teams took the field at Adelaide for
But it was. Batting first, New Zealand the first Test, most critics reckoned this
made 239-8 in bowler-friendly conditions. was going to be one heck of a tough series.
The innings was spread over 2 days Nobody knew how melodramatic it would
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