World Cup Semi Final 1 Tuesday 9 July; India v New Zealand @ Old Trafford.

[Slow Love]

This is a nice little slice of karma for the disrespect shown to NZ before this game.

A fair enough sentiment but do you think that if India won the toss that the result would have been the same?

As an Australian supporter I can only pray we win the toss tomorrow because if we don't it's probably curtains

 

[FreoRicci]

He is the world's best cricketer

Nope. Williamson has him in spades. Kohli did nothing in the series in India against Australia, time and time again isn’t a clutch batsman. I’d give that to Williamson, Warner, hell even Bairstow now. Kohli just burned his opportunities, as usual scoring 1s

 

[estibador]

He’s a class act (and batsman). I like him.

Yeah I've never got all the hate he gets on here. I like him too.

 

[to1994]

This was always coming for India.

For all the talk of Dhoni being to blame here, it was more so team management. They've rested on Kohli, Rohit and Dhawan for far too long and Dhawan's injury is when questions became apparent, KL Rahul is no like for like replacement.

Because of India's refusal to experiment and try Karthik, Pant, Jadhav and/or Rayudu higher up the order to test them meant they never got the match practice to show who actually belonged in the team. Leading up to it, they made the decision to go for Karthik despite no real evidence to suggest he was the right choice and his miserable innings today pretty much showed they got it wrong.

Pant was more to blame today then Dhoni, India were in a decent position and he threw it away, the problem is he has immense talent but once again India's management refused to give him appropriate match experience and he was thrown in the deep end when it was too late. I have no doubt next World Cup we'll see him as one of their best players but they ruined a chance to prep him for this tournament.

Dhoni was and is past it and he'll be scapegoated for this, but the true error lies in the last two years where India wasted an opportunity to build a full team in favour of letting Rohit and Kohli pad their stats and break records. The truth is Dhoni was still the best man for the job based on the current team, because they didn't put any effort into trying to build a replacement for him.

Lastly, Williamson was brilliant. Their batting strategy was a risk but it's clear the whole team believed in their plan and they battled on while Kohli arrogantly thought they were bowling NZ out of the game by keeping Williamson/Taylor to 4 an over in that middle period. On the topic of Kohli he peaked too early and he's probably got one more World Cup to get it right or go down as a pretender. Incredible stats but he's failed in terms of captaincy and batting at every major event.

 

[JuniorWatch]

Yeah bit ego driven I think wanting to be the closer or whatever.

If he went for it at least 3-4 overs earlier he may of gone out but may of got some more runs quickly, meaning Jadeja wouldn’t of had to go as hard later on.

Not a pitch where you can rely on the other batsman to go at Sr 200% and go at 50% yourself. Just not realistic

 

[The Speaker]

This is a nice little slice of karma for the disrespect shown to NZ before this game.

The early pages of this thread make for interesting reading.

 

[RohitSharma]

I am sorry for letting you down fans, I was due a failure but Kohli should have stepped up. I blame Virat for the loss, credit where it's due Kiwis FU

 

[Blue1980]

Kohli.. ha. You want to stand up, anytime soon? No Champions trophy and now no World Cup trophy for you, faux captain.

Since when did anyone care about the champions trophy?

 

[Antonio Conte]

will be interesting to see india's next world cup team. rohit, dhawan, dhoni are getting on.

 

[JuniorWatch]

Yeah I've never got all the hate he gets on here. I like him too.

Me too. All coming out of the closet now.
I never say anything at the cricket club cos I feel like I'll be dropped

 

[Richard Pryor]

Since when did anyone care about the champions trophy?

Fair call. Asia cup is bigger.

 

[Balls In]

Kohli speaking well.

Things like this can happen in one off games

I like Kohli. Nothing but respect and but for 2mm he probably wins India this game.

 

[Slow Love]

Jadeja deserves a lot of credit, played out of his skin. They'd have been nowhere near it without him.

Great innings from Jadeja

 

[Blue1980]

Nope. Williamson has him in spades. Kohli did nothing in the series in India against Australia, time and time again isn’t a clutch batsman. I’d give that to Williamson, Warner, hell even Bairstow now. Kohli just burned his opportunities, as usual scoring 1s

Pfft Kohli has played heaps of clutch test innings

 

[frankrizzo]

Kohli ODI record since the start of 2012:

8426 runs @ 65.3

Kohli vs Aus (WC semi) 1, vs Pak (CT final) 5, vs NZ (WC semi) 1.

You hate to see it.

In his six wc knockout games he averages just 12.

 

[The Speaker]

Even if they can get Kohli and Rohit out cheaply I think New Zealand still have to bank on Williamson and Taylor both going big to have any chance. Should be an easy win for India (although if they're chasing can't rule out Dhoni tanking the innings to bring it down to the wire).

I don't buy this one sided affair assessment. New Zealand, through Boult are probably in with the best chance of anyone to knock over Sharma early and Ferguson is perfect for the middle overs (it's no surprise Australia has improved since adjusting Cummins to the same role). Santner is bowling superbly too.

Couple of decent calls before the match.

 

[Van_Dyke]

“Heads should roll”

Heads should roll.

Any self respecting management will sack people who are responsible for this. The way Dhoni batted was pathetic. He should have atleast batted at 75 strike rate, he just put all the pressure on the batsman at the other end. Whats the point of his innings. Top order should be sacked too. You cant ...

www.indiancricketfans.com

“Dhoni when will the torture end”

Dhoni: when will the torture end???

Another not out and 49(42) this day and age with the kind of start we had is pathetic and I am pretty sure a lot of momentum was sucked in the process as well...This is out let lower order power hitter

www.indiancricketfans.com

They’re awesome at melting

 

[Ron The Bear]

According to this NZ are 9th and Norway are the best per capita. Don't ask me how they've worked that out.

Greatest Sporting Nation

www.greatestsportingnation.com

Winter Olympics?

 

[corbies]

The early pages of this thread make for interesting reading.

Ross Taylor is owed a few apologies.

 

[dumb]

dhoni didn't have to belt it when he came in, just had to turn the strike over a bit more often.

 

[tandino]

I say we think bigger. FIVE DAY one dayer.

20 overs a day. Sounds about right for the Millennials.

 

[IKnowtheDog]

Will be interesting to see if there’s any mention of Dohni carrying an injury

 

[Black white]

Good riddance to India and the world's most annoying fans

 

[Drunkcat]

Stuff the kiwis hate the bastards so hope USor the poms win it

 

[JuniorWatch]

Just vindicates my call to select Sydney stack over Dhoni.
#playthekids