India Wins 2nd One Day Match Against Sri Lanka At Perth

India Managed To Pull It Off After The Fall Of Its Main Batsman

India kept its nerve till the end and managed to pull out a win here during the second one day international match at Perth. India managed to restrict Sri Lanka to 233 and then chased it down with the help of Virat Kohli’s 77 and R.Ashwin’s useful 30 runs. Ashwin, who was awarded the Man of the Match for his all round abilities, shared an unbroken 53 run stand with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja to ensure an Indian victory. At one point of time, the match looked as if both the teams could win. But India nailed it at the last moment. This win will give the much needed confidence in the dressing room.

Lankan Wickets Fell In Heap After Ashwin Captured Mahela

Lanka, after winning the toss, decided to bat first. They lost Upul Tharanga early when he nicked a beauty of a delivery from India’s spearhead Zaheer Khan. Then the rescue act had been performed through the partnership for the second wicket between in form Kumar Sangakkara and former captain T.M. Dishan. Sangakkara looked good from the start and he was splendidly taken by Dhoni behind the stumps, the latter diving to his right like an athletic soccer goalkeeper. A young Dinesh Chandimal promised much and was solid at one stage after wickets started to tumble at one stage after the introduction of the spinners. Ashwin in particular, brought his best for this match by containing the batsman from one end and because of the simultaneous pressure created from the other end by Zaheer, Lankan wickets started to tumble. Skipper Mahela Jayawardane, who got his captaincy back after suddenly Dilshan gave it up, looked out of sorts right from Ball No 1. He wads very lucky to survive when Praveen Kumar was bowling to him and the edges didn’t land into the safe hands of the Indian fielders. After Mahela’s wicket, other batsman also fell when they tried to accelerate the run rate. Dinesh Chandimal was finally dismissed for 64 stumped effectively by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Thirimanne ran himself out. It was left to vice captain Angelo Mathews to take them to a total of respectability and that is what he did yesterday. Mathew’s innings of 33 made the Sri Lankans to cross 200. Finally it ended at 233 for the loss of seven wickets.

Sehwag Disappoints Yet Again But Tendulkar And Kohli Steadied The Ship

The Indian chase began disastrously. Virender Sehwag, who replaced Gautam Gambhir in the playing eleven, disappointed everyone. He played an unnecessary shot only for the ball to land at the safe hands of the third man fielder Nuwan Kulasekara. Tendulkar and Kohli steadied the Indian innings. The little master looked good as if he would reach his elusive 100^th century. Commentators turned into excited school boys but after some while the hopes of all Indians dashed, as Sachin was clean bowled for 48 by Angelo Mathews. India landed into unnecessary trouble when Rohit was dismissed for 10, the catch being held by the point fielder. Raina looked briefly good for a while but never threatened to take the game away form the Lankans. He was dismissed yet again for a short ball miscuing a pull and the ball finally landed in to the safe hands of the deep mid wicket fielder. Dhoni miscued a pull when attempting to close out the match in a hurry. But Ravindra Jadeja and R.Ashwin steadied the ship with a 53 run partnership for the 7^th wicket that brought the Indian dressing room into smiles. The World champions have registered their first win in this long tournament. But there is still a long way to go for the Indians.

Unnecessary In Bringing Rotation Policy

Indians at the moment, are following rotation policy as Sehwag indicated before the start of this match that either Sachin Tendulkar or Gautam Gambhir will be rested for this game in order to include him in the playing eleven and also give youngsters a chance to prove themselves because the 2015 World Cup is going to be played under these conditions. I don’t believe in this policy. If a player is out of form, then he should be dropped. I support strongly what the legendary Sunil Gavaskar has said about this rotation policy. Sehwag can be accommodated in the playing eleven because he is a dasher who is known to hit the cricket ball harder than any one else. But Why Dhoni is dropping Gambhir to accommodate Sehwag? Sehwag can come in, either in the place of Rohit Sharma or Suresh Raina who are looking out of sorts on this tour. Gambhir on the other hand should be playing in the next game which is important against Australia. You have to field your best playing eleven in such tournaments like these.

Yuvraj Will Recover Faster Because He Is Fighter

Great news for all Indian fans scattered across this globe is that World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh is showing greater signs of recovery, when undergoing his cancer treatment. He is currently treated in Research Cancer Institute at Boston. Yuvraj is suffering a germ cell cancer, which the doctors confessed as 100 % curable. I know Yuvraj very closely as I am watching every match he plays. Yuvraj, is a born fighter. I haven’t seen anyone in the Indian cricket team fighting for the team to India win as like Yuvraj. Because of the fighting abilities of Yuvraj only, we got 2 World Cups (1 T20 World Cup and 2011 50-over World Cup). He is the only man in this globe who smashed 6 straight sixes of a fast bowler. The sufferer was Stuart Broad in their T20 must win game against England during the World Cup 2007. This incident happened when Yuvraj was spurred on and abused by Andrew Flintoff, but finally he showed his anger to with the bat. This is nothing but pure courage and braveness. In the recent 50 over World Cup that India captured, Yuvraj brought alive the Ahmedabad crowd during India’s match against World champion Australia. He scored a promising 57 not out in the company of an enterprising Suresh Raina. Yuvraj turned the match in favour of his team when the Indian wickets suddenly started to fall in a heap. This shows that he was a fighter. No one can forget the 2002 Nat West trophy final between India and England where a young Yuvraj and Kaif revived the Indian hopes, when chasing a mammoth 326. Yuvraj finally gave support to his skipper MS Dhoni, when it mattered the most. Dhoni played a blinder on the night of the final scoring an incredible 79 ball 91 to guide India their second World Cup overall. Those were happy days for India. But Yuvraj’s non availability due to cancer treatment will be a huge shock to Indian fans. I am sure he will return back stronger than before because of his fighting abilities. Then there is no stopping for India. India will soon turn the tables on when Yuvi arrives. For that day only, I am waiting eagerly to watch The Lion of Punjab in action.