India’s List Of Missed Opportunities
India’s List Of Missed Opportunities: India succumbed to another loss in a World Cup knockout as they crashed out of the semis against England. Put into bat, India posted what looked like a par score of 168. But the English openers put on a sizzling show to win without losing a wicket. It was India’s eighth successive failure to win an ICC silverware.
We look back at each ICC event since 2013 chronicling India’s List Of Missed Opportunities to win an ICC Trophy:
#1 T20 World Cup final, 2014
India walked into the finals without losing a single game all along. They came up against Sri Lanka in the finals. India was the favourite to clinch their second T20 World Cup. But a painful middle-order innings put a price on India’s cup dreams. Sri Lanka romped home to a 6-wicket win. It was India’s first knockout loss in a World Cup post the 2003 World Cup.
#2 ODI World Cup semifinal, 2015
Similar to their T20 World Cup journey in 2014, India won all their games leading into the semifinal. Their campaign though came to an abrupt halt in the semifinal. The home team, Australia racked up a huge score batting first. India’s batting came up cropper chasing the total. MS Dhoni’s side had no answers and clearly looked the second-best on that day.
#3 T20 World Cup semifinal, 2016
It was India’s tournament to lose. The T20 World Cup in 2016 was played in India. But India’s archaic gameplay came to the fore during the semifinal against West Indies. India stuck to their template of launching at the back end. But the West Indies powered their way to the finals on the basis of their six-hitting. The game had moved in a new direction while India was caught napping.
#4 Champions Trophy final, 2017
India was the team to beat in Champions Trophy in 2017. They had batting up till number 9 with 6 plus bowling options. India looked in fine form with all their players contributing evenly to the team’s cause.
But it came undone in the final when India lacked discipline. They conceded a huge total after choosing to bowl first. Their top order crumbled under severe pressure within the first 10 overs. It was India’s fourth consecutive loss in the knockouts.
#5 World Cup semifinal, 2019
India’s team combination was all over the place despite India topping the table. This indecision came back to bite India on the most important day of the World Cup. India stuttered to 5-3 later 24-4 and then 92-6 to eventually lose the game. It was yet another opportunity missed for the Indian team.
#6 WTC Final, 2021
India achieved stupendous success in the first cycle of the World Test Championship. They went on to win a historic series in Australia despite not fielding their best team. India was expected to win the inaugural WTC with ease. But they met their bogey team, New Zealand in the finals. A session of senseless batting cost India the game as they went on to lose under 3 days of what was a rain-affected final.
#7 T20 World Cup, 2021
India’s tournament got off to the worst possible start in T20 World Cup 2021. They suffered shock defeats to both Pakistan and New Zealand. India’s campaign was dusted no sooner it began. It brought about the much-talked-about change in the mindset of Indian batters come the big day or so we were asked to believe.
#8 T20 World Cup semifinal, 2022
It was a case of yet another knockout game that the team seemed unprepared for. The aggressive batting template was deserted to marry conservatism at the most crucial moment. India limped their way to 62-1 in the first 10 overs. The game was as good as done as England chased the target of 170 in just 16 overs. India’s mindset cost them the game.
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