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How does one recover from such trauma?
It’s happening for the third time! THIRD TIME IN A SINGLE YEAR! TWICE IN INDIA AND ONCE IN SRI LANKA.
I don’t think this has anything to do with their talent. They have talented players, but now it’s just becoming an issue of a mental block, you know, like New Zealand against Australia.
Man, you must feel for Sri Lanka! They’re not dicks or bad people; they’re just in a bad place.
Even after that Asia Cup final loss, they came to the World Cup half-cooked, but they bought the first two matches. Though they had big totals to chase against South Africa, they still clocked 326 and hit 344 against Pakistan! They lost both matches, but I was guessing they’d always strike a win.
They have a very young team; they pushed Pathirana and Wellalage in very early, and the others, like Samarawickrama and Nissanka, still need to be in their prime. There’s so much more cricket they need to play against spearheads like Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj.
And only a few guys who have played over 100 ODIs here as well. So, it’s a rebuilding stage where we are; a couple of new players are still learning the trade.
They just seemed absolutely rattled; I don’t think SL will not accept any invites from India for a long time.
In this entire debacle for SL, there was something impressive.
Madushanka’s brilliance briefly hushed the spectators; the rest of Sri Lanka’s bowlers found it arduous to contain the Indian batters. They were up against a formidable partnership, as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill orchestrated a massive 189-run stand. Both batsmen were tantalizingly close to notching up centuries, sending the fans into a frenzy.
However, just when it seemed like Sri Lanka might regain their footing, Madushanka returned to the fray, taking crucial wickets and giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. But India had different plans. With the aggressive batting of Shreyas Iyer, they accumulated a remarkable 93 runs in their last ten overs.
So Shreyas Ieyer is finally awake; it needed a pitch like Wankhede and a team like Sri Lanka. When the guy brings it, he does, but I still have doubts; I would try Ishan Kishan before it’s too late.
By the way, he changed his look for the match; that’s something; maybe that did it?
He fell agonizingly short of a hundred. He latched on to anything remotely full and sent it disappearing from his sight. When Kasun Rajitha pitched one in the slot outside off, Iyer launched it over long-on for a 106-metre six – the biggest in the tournament so far. Iyer brought up his half-century off 36 balls and later lined up even Sri Lanka’s best bowlers on the day – Madushanka and Chameera. Iyer took Madushanka for 18 off nine balls before holing out.
I read a comment somewhere that Kohli is making a Dengue patient run for 2s and 3s. LOL.
He played a smooth innings; everyone, including Iyer, came into form tonight. It felt like minnow bashing, but the good part is he’ll be ready for the next challenge, especially the South African one; I’m looking forward to that one!
This was a sight to see, absolute firebrand; I mean, what else can you do? I wished the innings lasted longer, but well it was over so quickly.
The accuracy with which Bumrah started, the fierceness with which Siraj brought, and finally, Shami’s seam alignment.
It’s the thing about the current Indian bowling. First, you gotta face Bumrah, then Siraj comes with a little bit of uncalled-for shitty sledding (bro is trying to be Kohli); Miyan totally needs to quit that. If someone goes through these two, then Shami comes in for his first spell.
You should see the comparison between how the Lankans bowled vs the Indians. The INdian bowlers were constantly hitting the stumps. The accuracy was just unmatched. The Lankans were just off; most of them were pitched wide. Honestly, I don’t know what else to say, but just look at their wickets, this first one from Bumrah! And now Shami’s spell is on fire!
In just three matches, my man Shami bagged 14 wickets and is now sitting on top of the highest wicket-taker by any Indian bowler in the ICC World Cup!
All it took him was three matches just to change his entire career and rebuild his reputation, and I think this was a massive fuck you to all the selectors who left him out in the first three matches; that was just ridiculous; he would’ve easily got like 20+ wickets or even 30+ by now.
I just looked up Shami, who moved to the top 8 in total ICC World Cups with 45 wickets in just 14 matches, JUST 14!
Next on the list is Boult and Vaas, with 49; Shami is beating that easily.
Waseem with 55
Malinga and Starc are at 56. Starc is still a livewire, so there may be a little contest, but I bet he’s getting another 10-12 wickets quickly.
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