Harish Kotian writes on cricket and sports. You can e-mail the author at harishk@rediff.co.in
England underlined their domination in white ball cricket as they outclassed Pakistan by five wickets to win the T20 World Cup title on Sunday.
Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Patel and Arshdeep Singh were the only bright lights in a poor India show at the T20 World Cup.
It turned out to be a lop-sided contest as India were thoroughly outplayed in both batting and bowling by a dominant England.
Will India pick Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel or Yuzvendra Chahal for the semi-final game on Thursday?
Out of India's total tally of 842 runs in five matches, the duo has rattled up 471 runs -- which accounts to 55 percent of the runs -- at a strike rate of 160.
New Zealand are better organised and clinical in terms of execution and hence could start as the favourites in the first semi-final against Pakistan on Wednesday.
India, who have three wins from four games, are the best positioned from the group to make it to the semi-finals.
'I absolutely love playing on this ground. Right from the nets at the back, as soon as I enter, it makes me feel at home,' Kohli said after the match.
After returning to form with a quickfire fifty, KL Rahul ran out dangerman Litton Das with a direct hit triggering a Bangladesh batting collapse.
Rishabh Pant could bring some much-needed firepower to the batting order.
Electing to bat, India's batting line-up came undone against South Africa's pace battery on a bouncy Perth wicket as they were reduced to 49/5 before Suryakumar Yadav played the rescue act.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for their T20 World Cup match against South Africa on Sunday?
'I play a different role when I am batting with him, and I enjoying it because it works beautifully well for the team.'
Suryakumar ended the innings in grand style, flicking the final ball of the innings from pacer Logan van Beek over square leg for a six. That stunning shot also saw him race to his half-century from 25 balls.
The India-Pakistan game was tantalisingly poised with 31 needed from the last two overs, but India always had the edge with Kohli -- the king of run chases -- looking ominous as he cut loose after a cautious start.
From the 12th over onwards, Virat Kohli hit 67 from his last 29 balls, scoring at a strike rate in excess of 200 to take the match away from Pakistan's grasp in great style.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for their T20 World Cup opening match against Pakistan on Sunday?
In his last five innings including the first practice match against Western Australia, Rohit has scored just 63 runs, including two ducks in the T20I series against South Africa.
'Why was he was given only a one-year contract?' 'Nobody has ever asked that question and obviously nobody has answered that question.'
'All of us tend to believe that they are so well paid, why should we bother about their payments.' 'But who all are well paid? Only a handful, maybe 3-4 of them, who go in for endorsements and things.' 'The others are struggling, playing Ranji Trophy and other matches, so that compensation we made it market-oriented.'
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