On this day a year ago (June 30, 2019), has England crushed India at Edgbaston in Birmingham by 31 runs in their World Cup experience.
Batting first, England had posted 337 for 7 riding on Jonny Bairstow’s 111 off 109, Jason Roy’s 66 off 57 and Ben Stokes’ 79 off 54. India’s bowlers to a great extent attempted to change underground measurements, with one limit being incredibly short as the match was played on one of the keep going pitches on the square.
Mohammed Shami, be that as it may, got 5 for 69 in the game to guarantee England didn’t flee with the game with the bat.
In answer, India lost KL Rahul for 0 yet Rohit Sharma (102) and Virat Kohli (66) included 138 for the subsequent wicket. When they fell, India’s pursuit self-destructed, with many censuring their methodology especially towards the end.
In the last 5.1 overs, India required 71 runs yet MS Dhoni (42 off 31) and Kedar Jadhav (12 off 13) included just 39 runs with 20 of those in singles. Dhoni was hammered for not going for the success, with some, in any event, blaming India for purposely losing to guarantee Pakistan were taken out.
“There is no doubt about this – we said this before and all cricketers are saying that – as I said, you can see this clearly; For a person like Dhoni who can hit a six or a four at will, he is blocking the ball then that is easy to see,” Razzaq was quoted by PakPassion when asked if India lost to England on purpose.PakPassion.
“I was working with the West Indies squad at last year’s World Cup. After India’s loss to England, Jason Holder, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell said to me, Mushy, India didn’t want to see Pakistan qualify for the semi-final,” Mushtaq Ahmed had said.
Meanwhile, Stokes wrote in his book that he felt Dhoni’s approach was strange.
“Arguably, the way MS Dhoni played when he came in with 112 runs needed from 11 overs was even stranger. He appeared more intent on singles than sixes. Even with a dozen balls remaining, India could still have won.
“…there was little or no intent from him (Dhoni) or his partner Kedar Jadhav. To me, while victory is still possible you always go for broke.”
However, former West Indies pacer Michael holding said Dhoni desperately wanted to win.
“It was not the game that India had to win, but I don’t think anyone can say that was a team tactic to lose the game. I watched that game and it appeared to me as if India weren’t putting up their 100 per cent, but I realised it was not the case when the expression on MS Dhoni’s face told me that he desperately wanted to win, so I do not think it was a team decision to not try to win,”
India were taken out by New Zealand in the elimination round while England beat New Zealand by a better limit include after a Super Over in the last than win the competition.
