A hush fell upon the grandest cricketing arena globally. During this World Cup, an unusual quietude enveloped the atmosphere of an India game, with over a hundred thousand voices muted. Virat Kohli stood there, stunned, motionless, grappling with the reality his ears and eyes presented. The LED stump lights flickered after he unintentionally edged Pat Cummins onto his stumps, with the exuberant Australian captain having sprinted past him. Kohli, for some inexplicable reason, cast a despondent glance towards square-leg before reluctantly departing from the scene of the dismissal.
On a sluggish pitch that challenged every batsman, Kohli displayed a masterful innings but couldn’t translate it into a substantial contribution. Later in the innings, a reverse-swinging delivery from Mitchell Starc claimed KL Rahul, and the Indian innings began to lose momentum.
The hosts struggled to a meager 240, bowled out for the first, and only, time in the World Cup. The scarcity of boundaries after the initial Powerplay reflected Australia’s dominant control. The over a hundred thousand Indian fans, accustomed to India’s dominance in their ten-match winning streak, witnessed a team that seemed unfamiliar.
In contrast, Australia saved their best for the final game. Their disciplined bowling and committed fielding showcased a team in top form. Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, caught by Travis Head after a powerful shot, signaled a shift in the pitch’s behavior. Scraggy lines and a spreading black patch indicated a change in the surface, making it more challenging for the batsmen.
The Australians combined aggression with intelligence, delivering a variety of balls tailored for the pitch. Cutters, well-timed bouncers, loopy off-paced deliveries, and occasional hit-the-deck deliveries kept the Indian batsmen guessing. As the pitch started to offer reverse swing, the Australians strategically applied pressure.
Ironically, the pitch had been consciously chosen by India, having played Pakistan on the same track earlier. Coach Rahul Dravid and his support staff had visited the venue upon landing in Ahmedabad. However, the chosen strategy seemed to backfire, leaving India in a challenging position. Yet, they had their best batsman, Kohli, on the field, producing an exceptional innings.
On the slow pitch, reminiscent of one where an older Sachin Tendulkar would excel, Kohli adapted his shots skillfully. Paddle-sweeps, waiting-and-nurdling to square-leg, angled bat nudges, and stand-at-the-crease punches were deployed with precision. Kohli may lack Tendulkar’s strokes, but his adaptability and control over his game were evident. He demonstrated the art of waiting for the ball and playing it late.
Midway through the innings, Kohli mentored Rahul, guiding him to adapt to the challenging conditions. Rahul, too, began to adjust his instincts, incorporating shots like the paddle-sweep that he had picked up from Tendulkar. However, Kohli’s dismissal, influenced by a technique he learned from Tendulkar, took him by surprise. A smartly-bowled short delivery from Cummins led to an unfortunate inside-edge, ending Kohli’s innings abruptly.
In the blink of an eye, the moment was over, and India, along with Kohli, struggled to come to terms with the unexpected turn of events.
