Only a few weeks back, Team India was being whipped left, right and centre by the Australians in the ODI series.
Come the T20 series, and what a turnaround! Dhoni's boys staged a magnificent comeback with a 37-run win in the first T20 and now a 27-run win on Friday. India's series win Down Under, expectedly, has sparked off celebrations at home. But let's try to read between the lines, shall we? Here are five reasons India's win seems suspicious:
1. The nature of the reversal in the fate of the two teams looks a bit out of place
Australia, which has been beating Dhoni's boys with considerable ease in the ODIs, suddenly are playing like pushovers, going down heavily in both T20s, and the Indians are looking like world-beaters. Is there more than cricketing reasons behind such a reversal of fate? Quite possible.
2. Australia's T20 team is stronger than its ODI team, but still...
The inclusion of the big-hitting Shane Watson had added considerable weight to the Aussie line-up. With the likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and James Faulkner also in the team for this series, such abject surrender in the first two matches was not expected.
3. Almost same totals by the teams in both matches
India scored 188 in the first match. Australia replied with 151. India scored 184 in the second match. Australia replied with 157. Is it part of a deal?
4. Numerous catches dropped
Both teams have dropped many catches. It looks fishy when the Australians do it, considering they are one of the best fielding sides in world cricket, if not the best. They have done it often in the ODI series and in the first T20 Cameron Boyce could not take the chance Rohit Sharma offered.
This lack of intensity is not what you would have associated with the Australia under Alan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting. Has their fielding quality gone down suddenly, or they are doing it as part of an agreement?
5. Indian bowlers suddenly looking unplayable
Dhoni's bowlers who could not defend 300-plus scores in the ODIs, are restricting the Maxwells, Watsons, Smiths and Warners with ease! Ravichandran Ashwin, who took some stick in the ODIs conceded only 27 runs in his four overs on Friday. Very good in T20 cricket. And Ravindra Jadeja is also looking the part, which is something new. Where were they in the ODIs? Or are the Australians giving them a chance to salvage some pride now, as part of a deal? |
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