4 Sixers - Nothing Succeeds like Success

In the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (non-going for India, sadly) in England, India stumbled losing by 18 runs in the semifinal played vs New Zealand, at the Old Trafford in Manchester spread over two days due to rain on the first day. The Dream Team touted as the contenders for the world cup are out of the world cup

Much ado had been made of this ouster

analysis, criticism, news, anger by analysts, critics, media, public, ex-cricketers

The middle batting order failed, why was Rishabh Pant sent in at number 4, why was the highly experienced Mahinder Singh Dhoni not sent in earlier or why is this senior citizen playing here at all ?X%$, why were this and this players included and why this and this players excluded, where was the need for Rishabh Pant to make that irresponsible shot, or for Hardik Pandya to emulate him?

The inimical Mohamad Azharuddin could only find faults. Why was bowler Shami excluded, Dhoni is old and should not be playing, even questioning Virat Kohli’s captaincy and if at all he should continue as captain

blah blah blah

Few brought forth the achievements and accomplishments of this team. This is the team which won a whopping 7 out of 9 matches played, lost only one match (to England, who are now in the finals) and one game washed out, topping the league table. Only one other team (Australia, who have now lost to England in the other semifinals) has equaled this remarkable record in this tournament.

Rohit Sharma's centuries garnered him 648 runs and a batting average of 80, Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional, the flamboyant Jadeja made a career best 77 with 4 swashbuckling sixers under enormous pressure coming in at number 8 with India tottering in the semifinal. Shikhar Dhawan continued to play for several hours with a fractured thumb in the first match against Australia leading India to victory with his 117 runs. Hardik Pandya had a groin injury but valiantly batted against New Zealand in the semifinal. Are these tales of valour and accomplishments not worth reflecting on.

Sachin Tendulkar remained balanced with an all encompassing analysis, pointing out that every team has a bad day, preferring to highlight Team India's overall achievements in the tournament.

In the semifinal against New Zealand, 25 runs were needed with 10 balls left, a gargantuan but not impossible task with the seasoned Dhoni still at the crease. Dhoni has come up muster with his steely nerves in earlier ODI’s, his late entry was warranted to take control of a bad situation and effectively take on the challenge of the run chase. Dhoni may well have managed that, if not for the accuracy of Guptill’s direct throw on the stumps, running out Dhoni and running out India’s hopes.

If only Dhoni had not been runout, if only 4 sixers had been struck, even if it was a tie with New Zealand, India by virtue of better run rate and topping the round robin stage with only one loss vs New Zealand's 3 defeats, would have been through the Final. Then the same critics would have gloating, none of the talk of the middle order, selection of players etc. would have been expounded on

Nothing succeeds like success
If only
4 Sixers