January 22, 2025

Over a billion dreams came crashing down as the West Indies clinically demolished the Indian castle of 192 runs and Simmons bettered what India’s current blue-eyed boy Virat Kohli had done. The euphoria of Jasprit Bumrah castling danger man Chris Gayle early on was short lived as other Windies batsmen rose to the occasion and handed India a rare loss in a match where Kohli had scored over 50 runs.

In retrospect, India fell about 20 to 30 runs short. Even the score predictor was showing 214 as the Indians were going steady in the initial overs. That would have a better total to defend on the flat Wankhede track. But the way the West Indians were batting, one thinks that it wouldn’t have mattered. The day belonged to the visitors from the Caribbean.

The match perhaps was lost with the toss. The Wankhede ground is smaller than most other major grounds in India. It does not assist spin. It is flat and although the ball does not come on to the bat for hoisting, it still offers lots of runs to the one who can wait for the bowler to stray. India likes to chase and this time the shoe was on the other foot. India was found wanting in defending.

Post mortems often do not help but it is fact that all of Dhoni’s maneuvers didn’t work. He bowled Bumrah and Nehra before the 19th and 20th over in a bid to get a wicket and slow the opponents down but that meant Jadeja and Kohli bowled the last two overs. They were easy meat for the set Simmons. The Indian bowlers bowled far too short than what was required. To be fair, on the Wankhede pitch, a batsman who gets his eye in can clobber even the best of balls.

Well played West Indies. The final will now be between two equally strong teams and should be a delight to watch. But with India out, tickets would be easily available at the Eden Gardens. Still, one can be sure that Eden will witness a full house on Sunday as Calcuttans are known not to give a miss to any major sporting event. England and West Indies it will be in the World T20 final, rubbishing most pre-tournament predictions and showing that the T20 format is most unpredictable. After this show, I will put my money on West Indies to win the cup.