India's Debacle in the Twenty Twenty Cricket World Cup Championship 2009

The Twenty Twenty Cricket World Cup 2009,been a paper tiger, being very strong only at the
currently in progress in England, ended in a debacleIndian soil.o Indian team has failed to read the English
for India. It was the defending champion, since it wonconditions quickly and acclimatize itself. However,
the first edition of the Twenty Twenty CricketIndia also played two warm up matches before the
World Championship held in South Africa in the yearcommencement of the tournament with New
2007.Zealand and Pakistan respectively, losing the former
Before the beginning of the tournament, tipped asby 9 runs and winning the later by 6 wickets.o India
the joint favourite with South Africa to win thechoked at the super eight league stage because the
World Twenty Twenty Championship, 2009, Indiateam was totally out of form.o Viru's early exit from
failed miserably losing all its matches that it played atthe game and return to India because of a torn
the Super Eight League stage with the West Indies,shoulder muzzle injury weakened the team at the
England and lastly with South Africa. Australia, thetop of the order. Dinesh Karthick who was sent in as
champion of both the shorter and longer version ofa replacement for Viru was not a opening batsman.o
the game also made its early exit by losing in theRohit Sharma who was promoted to the opening slot
qualifying rounds. The early Australian exit did notdid not perform well and justify his promotion,
shock anybody because the team having lost manyscoring poorly at the Super Eight league stage.o
of its cricket legends like Shane Warne and othersThere was a talk of disunity among the Indian
was only a shadow of its former strong cricketplayers even before the tournament which played a
outfit.havoc in their performance. There is every reason to
Considering their present form and performance, thesuspect such a phenomenon, because, in the IPL
South African and the Sri Lankan teams having wonseries, Viru was the captain of Delhi Dare Devils
most of the matches that they have played so far,which topped the points table in the IPL tournament.
are now tipped as the hot favourites to win theYuvaraj Singh was the captain of Punjab XI team
Twenty Twenty Cricket World Cup Championshipand M. S. Dhoni was the captain of Chennai Super
2009 in England.Kings. Perhaps the egos of these captains clashed
The Indian cricket team's debacle has raised manyand played a significant role in the India's debacle.o
eye brows. It has shocked the cricket crazy peopleThough hailed as a brilliant captain, M. S. Dhoni's
of India to whom cricket is a religion. The BCCI hadcaptaincy at the Super Eight league stage was not
sent a very strong contingent, under the leadershipup to the mark. Especially, during the match played
of M. S. Dhoni, who has always been in the limelightwith England, having won the toss, Dhoni ought to
for his calm and unassuming manners and leadershiphave chosen to bat first; instead he elected to field ,
qualities.permitting England to bat first. This tactless decision
But India's debacle in the tournament, that too at thewas proved very costly that paved the way for the
international level has sent shock waves and itsearly exit of India from the tournament.o Even in the
reputation is at stake. Despite of being rich inlast match played with South Africa, India did not
resources, India's poor performance in the currentplay even to save its pride and lost the match
Twenty Twenty World Cup Championship, 2009 haswoefully falling short to chase 131, a paltry total.
prompted the cricket pundits to come up with someHaving performed shabbily in the Twenty Twenty
strong reasons to justify their poor performance.oWorld Cup Championship, 2009, the Indian team
The Indian team has been playing too much ofawaits the most unceremonious welcome from the
cricket almost non-stop for the past one year.ocricket crazy fans in India. Let us hope that the ailing
Apart from the test and ODI cricket series, the IPLIndian team will get well soon and do well in the
cricket series played every year during April hasforthcoming ODI series with the West Indies that
practically sapped their energy.o India has alwaysbegins shortly after India's return to India.