Simon Doull, a former New Zealand cricketer and well-known commentator, discussed Team India’s games schedule. He says it was retained in lieu of rural vacations and had an aura of arrogance about it.
On October 24th, the Men In Blue played their first match against arch-rivals Pakistan. However, they went on to play their next match against New Zealand a week later.
The decision to keep Pakistan as India’s opening opponent in the tournament was correct, according to Doull. However, he believed that New Zealand, rather than Namibia, should have been their final opponent.
“I don’t know how to put this kindly, but There was a real air of arrogance around the scheduling and that is what the broadcasters wanted with involvement from the ICC as they wanted India’s fixtures around the holidays around Diwali and all that so they wanted those games at peak times. Doull said
Pakistan should have been the first game, but the game against New Zealand should have been the final contest. It should have been India against New Zealand for a place in the semi-final at the end.” he added
Virat Kohli, India’s captain, has also spoken out against the team’s being handed a week off before facing a formidable New Zealand side. Simon Doull
To finish the tournament, Team India notched up three overwhelming victories. They easily defeated Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia. But their destiny was determined even before they took the field against Namibia in the last group stage match.
Dinesh Karthik
India, according to Dinesh Karthik, would have preferred an inverted schedule. It would have pitted them against the group’s weaker members first, before facing the heavyweights.
“Everyone expected the contest against Pakistan a walk in the park considering the talent we have. It’s a learning curve as well. Can give many reasons, but at the end of the day, India knows they did not play their best cricket. Karthik said
‘They would have hoped had the final three games been the ones they began with, they could have taken the confidence for the tough games. But, that is the beauty of a tournament like a World Cup, can’t pick and choose here.” he added
Team India finished third in their group, two points behind New Zealand, with three wins. The Kiwis advanced to the semi-finals as the group’s second representative.
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