Finals (QF's, SF's and Finals)

well I returned yesterday from my trip to lucknow, didn't had as good a time as I had last year but still it was OK. The best part was that I was invited for dinner by Mohammed Kaif's sister and her husband at their house, had a very good time there, Kaif has got married, saw his marriage Pics, it was attended by Azharuddin, Kapil Dev, Irfan Pathan, Murali Kartik and Ajay Jadeja, as it happened during the WC none of the Indian team members were able to attend it. All the best to Kaif for his married life and wish him best of luck for IPL season 4!

My final words on WC 2011, I think there were several teams that could have won, South Africa were one had it not been for their shocking exit, Sri Lanka could have won but they couldn't capitalize on the wonderful position they were in once Sachin got out and Pakistan were another team had it not been for their abysmal fielding in the Semi Final against India that pretty much cost them the game.

India peaked at the right time, after a scratchy start they came good when it mattered the most, their KO's win's were absolutely amazing and showed how determined the team was to win, the fielding was absolutely fantastic in the KO's and the players rose to the occasion, Gambhir as I had said, loves it at the big stage and once again played a major part in the finals.

Once again congrats to Team India a new journey begins now, all the very best to all the teams and I think we have got very exciting four years ahead of us until we reach Australia and New zealand 2015.

Gary Kirsten in an Interview

"And I think the one positive that came out from that England game is how  we came back. For me that has been one great characteristic of the Test team and the one-day team. To come back from difficult situations. This team never gives up anymore.

We just believe that we can do anything. It stems from Harbhajan Singh scoring hundreds. It stems from Ishant Sharma batting with [VVS] Laxman to save a game. It stems from Gautam Gambhir batting out a day against South Africa in really tough conditions at Newlands. And then all the one-day efforts from difficult situations. Yusuf Pathan getting a brilliant hundred against New Zealand [last December] when we were in trouble. You could probably name six or seven games in this World cup when we got ourselves into trouble and got out of it.

This team has got a remarkable ability to come back from the dead. For me that speaks about the team, it speaks about what we want to achieve as a team. This team was desperate to achieve greatness."

I strongly share those sentiments.  We gonna miss you Gary.  Really enjoyed reading your interview, a must read ( Never gives a lot of bite to the media, and rightly so)

Originally posted by zuhair_abbasi Ad on the toss - who else thinks Sangakkara is a cheat? He clealry called tails the first time and he lost - that was so disgraceful.

I too missed it live.Some reports say that he said "Heads" the first time and it fell Heads , While some say he lost the first time. I would like to believe that he did not cheat. Maybe the occassion got big on everyone there, or maybe Dhoni got confused what Sanga called, maybe Sanga forgot what he called in first place. 

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 05 April 2011 at 3:21pm

Can't comment on it since I didn't see it Zuhair. I was on the way to one of my friends house to see the match when it happened. Very bad if he did it. Anyhow when it comes to captaincy, he is a very conservative captain in my opinion. He should have given Malinga few more overs initially. He always wants to keep him for the last 10+ overs.

Ad on the toss - who else thinks Sangakkara is a cheat? He clealry called tails the first time and he lost - that was so disgraceful.

It's a great outcome for India, but one must feel that they may end up on the same path as Australia, as their talented stars age. The replacements are good, but in no way can VVS, Rahul, Sachin, Ganguly, Kumble, Zaheer, Sehwag ever truly be replaced.
The batting should always be decent, as India do, slowly, bring in new talent. But fast bowling will always be a concern and they should look outside Zaheer for wickets. An Indian line up with a couple of good pace bowlers is the most dangerous team to play....

Hi JP, will cricketworld have "Team India" champions photo in the background for a while ? (Just like we had when England won the Ashes).

Watch a final, set up brilliant by Jayawardena and the Lanka lower order.  Jayawardena caresses the ball when he's in T20 mode and yet scores at a blistering rate.  His use of wrists is very magical!  

Originally posted by dips_december I danced in the streets till about 1'o clock that night and couldn't sleep the whole night! Had a blast really! I think the IPL's coming too soon for my liking as this feeling is still sinking in!

Welcome dipsey. Congrats. Ya it came a little too soon, that's ok as some of the main players will skip initial few rounds as there is a limitation on the number of matches they can play.

Small office party planned by management to commemorate and celebrate the occasion over here tonight. Not sure if I'll be that ecstatic as yesterday. Used all of ecstasy on Sunday

         Yep, future will take care of itself. Enjoying every bit of the moment , spoilt for choices though,  TV channels or hangout with friends or net articles or discuss the match time and again with friends over the phone and relive all those world cup moments!!!.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 04 April 2011 at 11:22am

 True the future of ODI cricket all of a sudden does look bright as to the general view prior to the WC. This WC in my conviction has been the honeymoon period of ODI cricket. Has clearly brought a new lease of life, an added impetus to the format.

And as for Dhoni the skipper I do agree at times he gets lucky but a winner makes his own luck. His field placing has been the highlight of his captaincy more so in this WC. He maynot have had the same bowling attack of many other teams, but he has managed to get the most out of his unit esp in this WC knock-outs where it mattered the most. He forced the batsmen to play to his field and never let the opposition feel in total control in majority of the innings. He's also renowed to be a calming influence on his team-mates by the admission of his coach and senior players.  

He does gamble a lot and we just love it when it goes right, don't we. Like when he played Raina over Yusuf Pathan when the whole world thought otherwise. His decision to keep Ashwin away from the team till the B-end of the tournament helped in building the hunger within the young lad which was evident against WI and more crucially against AUS. Then again his decision to remove him of the attack turned out in his favour even though he did accept he'd misread the wicket.  Yes the gamble does turn into tosh too at times like his sreesanth play in the final. But then he's just human and doesnt have the divine right to always be right. More often than not though his bizarre gambles seem to pay off. 
And all's good that ends well I suppose.


Edited by vote4peace - 04 April 2011 at 10:29am

Yes Zuhair, he leads a finest side in the world w.r.t Test but not ODIs. Taking nothing away from Indian ODI side, they have the exceptional  batting line up, but they do implode like 9 pins sometimes, don't they?. Yes they have an good bowling lineup. This side is nothing like ODI team what Ricky Ponting inherited who had 99% reliable ODI batting and bowling lineup. Earlier Aussie teams (2001-2007/8) was far superior , it did'nt need a captain/coach at all unlike current Indian team. Time and again Dhoni's captaincy has come to fore in choking the runs, rotating the bowlers,feild settings and even changing batting line up has clicked and they have often snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 04 April 2011 at 9:58am

Gambhir played absolutely magnificently. Never let the pressure show on him and never put too much pressure on the new comers. They never let the required run rate touch 7 an over for most part and that sealed the deal. Despite the masterful innings that he played and the player that he is, I am still not sure about some of his on field tactics and team selection. He certainly does lead the finest side in the world at the moment though.