India were knocked out of the prestigious ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 edition after they lost by 18 runs against New Zealand at the Old Trafford Cricket Stadium. Despite a warrior-innings from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, the Men in Blue failed to register a win and qualify for the Cricket World Cup 2019 final.
However, despite being defeated, the Indian cricket team put up a good show throughout the cash-rich tournament. In all the matches they played, they ensured that the team would march towards victory. Displaying their will to win and intent to play good cricket, here are five positive moments that showcased India's Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign:
India were playing against Afghanistan and while chasing, the Afghani batsmen needed 16 runs off the final over. As Nabi hit the first delivery for a boundary, it looked like they could pull off a win against the Men in Blue. However, Nabi hit a shot directly towards Hardik Pandya at long-on off the third ball.
While the match seemed won already, Shami decided to clean up the stumps of both Aftab Alam and Mujeeb ur Rahman to finish the game and become the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma in 1987 to take a World Cup hat-trick.
After Sanjay Manjrekar's 'bits and pieces' comment, Ravindra Jadeja decided to showcase his set of skills to the world and shattered the opponents to 'bits and pieces'. Earlier in the match, he scalped a wicket, effected a run-out and later took a sensational catch to assist India in poaching the Kiwis.
However, his 59-ball 77 was not enough to help India reach the finals as the Men in Blue lost by 18 runs. The partnership between Jadeja and former captain MS Dhoni looked lethal and Indian fans were sure about a definite win. But the pressure of the last overs got the better of the two batsmen and they were dismissed in quick succession.
Rohit Sharma has been India's Most Valuable Player (MVP) as he was and still remains the team's as well the tournament's highest run-getter. Playing against Pakistan, the arch-rivals chose to bowl first, a decision that cost them the match as Rohit Sharma scored a blistering ton (140 off 113) whereas skipper Virat Kohli's half-century helped India table a formidable total of 336.
Sharma put up a batting show in the absence of his partner, Shikhar Dhawan and kept the scoreboard ticking since the first ball. He was awarded the Player of the Match award for his explosive knock.
Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked bowler in one-day internationals, has been Indian team's top bowler as he has provided India with wickets during powerplay overs along with death overs. Amongst several match-winning performances, the pacer finished with the figures of 4-55 in his 10 overs at Edgbaston against Bangladesh.
Owing to his pace attack, the Bangladesh batsmen were bowled out for 286 in response to India's 314-9, to lose by 28 runs. Number eight batsman Mohammad Saifuddin gave India a scare with a quickfire unbeaten 51 but Bumrah returned in his final spell to cut off the tail with two wickets in successive deliveries.
Indians have a great record of producing the finest spinners in the world, and one such player is leggie Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal provided India with a terrific Cricket World Cup 2019 start as spun a web around the South Africa batsmen and returned with the figures 4/51 from his 10 overs.
Chahal first bamboozled Proteas skipper Faf Du Plessis, followed it with the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. Continuing his spin attack, he then dismissed David Miller and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
The South African batting line-up fell against the flighted deliveries by the leggie who assisted India in taking home an easy win and begin the World Cup campaign with a victory.
Although team India hasn't made it to the final, there have been plenty of positives for our country throughout the World Cup.
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