New Delhi :
Just before the start of ICC T20 World Cup 2016, India were hot favorites, when most of the teams were struggling to find the right composition for the shortest format of the game. India was on cloud nine after defeating Australia in their own backyard, demolished Sri Lanka and lifted T20 Asia Cup without any fuss.
The other big teams including West Indies, South Africa, Australia has barley played any T20s, on the other hand India played 11 winning 10 of them before the mega event started.
The Men in Blue, at home, were red-hot favourites to win the World T20 for a record second time. But New Zealand gave them a wake-up call on a rank turner at Nagpur, when Kiwi spinners stunned Indian batsmen.
In the second match against arch-rivals Pakistan India was in a spot of bother in first few overs, when the top three batsmen were removed cheaply. The run-machine Virat Kohli and veteran Yuvraj Singh played a pivotal role to bring out India out of trouble at Eden Gardens.
India played both the matches on a rank turner which was not fair for the visiting teams. The flat pitches were nowhere to be seen for Indians.
In Bangalore against Bangladesh, the Men in Blue were bundled out for just 146 runs. Everyone struggled on slow track and exposed the weakness against spin.
It was Bangladesh who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, when they just require 2 runs from last three balls. Pandya kept his nerves to steal a one-run win and the nation erupted.
In the last match MS and his boys will meet Australia in the last match to reach the semis. Before the start no has ever thought India’s fate will be on edge of the sword. India are not yet contenders for the trophy.
However, India are gradually moving towards happier venues as they will Australia in Mohali and if they do make it to the semis, they are likely to play the West Indies in Mumbai. If they reach finals, it won’t be easy for any team to face India.
