In the end, it turned out to be a dud. The Twenty20 clash between India and Australia at Melbourne was being projected as a show-stopper. World champions vs a team which was struggling to find its feet in the new format of the game. Only this time, the champions were Dhoni's devils and the hosts featuring as a struggling outfit. The (over)confidence of the World T20 champs was there on full show a day before the clash. "It's just a practice game for us," was the first salvo fired by the Indian skipper. Not everyone was sure whether the Jharkhand lad was playing mind-games with the Aussies or actually taking an international match lightly.
We didn't have to wait for too long to end the guessing game.
The Men in Blue had no answers to the hosts' shock and awe strategy, getting bundled out for just 74 runs in 17.3 overs. "We could still do it," murmered a highly optimistic chap in the dressing room during the break. Wake up, mate. You did beat this team in Durban, and later in Mumbai, but this was MCG. The Australians were playing in front of over 84,000-strong home crowd. They had completely outclassed you in every department of the game. There were just three boundaries hit by the Indians, the lowest in the slam-bang format of the game. And, they were lucky enough to narrowely miss breaking Kenya's record of 73, the lowest-ever total in a Twenty20 international game.
Fortunately, it took just over a dozen balls for the wake-up call to arrive.
The Aussies rode home in the 12th over for the loss of just one wicket. There were no wild celebrations, just a smile and shake of hands. None of the Aussie players took of their shirt and gave it to a child in the stands or, for that matter, went mad thumping his chest. Unlike the Indians, the Aussies had their feet firmly on ground. Dhoni, meanwhile, had an excuse ready. "Our batsmen forgot the roles that they were assigned," came the explanation. What about your own form, buddy? 141 runs were all you scored in 8 innings of the 4 Tests vs Ricky Ponting's team.
But, all isn't lost. We Indians have a short memory. Now, probably, nothing less than a series win in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series (vs Australia and Sri Lanka) would satisfy the insatiable Indian fan!
We didn't have to wait for too long to end the guessing game.
The Men in Blue had no answers to the hosts' shock and awe strategy, getting bundled out for just 74 runs in 17.3 overs. "We could still do it," murmered a highly optimistic chap in the dressing room during the break. Wake up, mate. You did beat this team in Durban, and later in Mumbai, but this was MCG. The Australians were playing in front of over 84,000-strong home crowd. They had completely outclassed you in every department of the game. There were just three boundaries hit by the Indians, the lowest in the slam-bang format of the game. And, they were lucky enough to narrowely miss breaking Kenya's record of 73, the lowest-ever total in a Twenty20 international game.
Fortunately, it took just over a dozen balls for the wake-up call to arrive.
The Aussies rode home in the 12th over for the loss of just one wicket. There were no wild celebrations, just a smile and shake of hands. None of the Aussie players took of their shirt and gave it to a child in the stands or, for that matter, went mad thumping his chest. Unlike the Indians, the Aussies had their feet firmly on ground. Dhoni, meanwhile, had an excuse ready. "Our batsmen forgot the roles that they were assigned," came the explanation. What about your own form, buddy? 141 runs were all you scored in 8 innings of the 4 Tests vs Ricky Ponting's team.
But, all isn't lost. We Indians have a short memory. Now, probably, nothing less than a series win in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series (vs Australia and Sri Lanka) would satisfy the insatiable Indian fan!
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