Clinical performance

Commentating on the India versus Bangladesh quarterfinal tie, former England captain Nasser Hussain asked batting legend Rahul Dravid whether India had peaked too early in the World Cup. In his classic understated tone, Dravid said that it is better to have peaked early than to not have peaked at all. A dig on Team England aside, Dravid’s comment has thus far been representative of India’s performances throughout the tournament. Despite the massive 109-run victory though, Bangladesh did threaten India on various occasions. On one occasion in particular, if the umpire had called it right, we might have witnessed a different outcome. 

India were 196 in the 40th over, when man of the match Rohit Sharma hit a full toss straight down deep midwicket’s throat. Although replays showed that Rohit had met the ball waist-high, square-leg umpire Aleem Dar called it a no-ball. Rohit was 90 off 101 at that juncture. The Indian opener then went onto smash 137 runs of 126 deliveries, taking India past the 300-run mark. Nonetheless, throughout Team India’s resurgence in the World Cup, there is no doubt that its supporters have been privy to a killer instinct on the field that many had not seen prior to the tournament. With a first innings total of 303 on a flat batting track, Team India’s bowlers, led by speedster Umesh Yadav, stifled Bangladesh’s batsmen. Allied with an electric performance on the field, India made sure that it did not allow the advantage to slip away.