Sunil Gavaskar’s column. As soon as I removed the curtains after getting up in the morning, I saw the sun shining with all its glory. Once again a bright ray of sun appeared after deep darkness. The Indian team has to remember the same thing, even if the team has suffered a one-sided defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan. Despite Virat Kohli’s extraordinary achievements, he now has the unwanted tag of becoming the first Indian captain to lose to Pakistan in a World Cup in nearly 30 years. Virat Kohli made it clear that this was not India’s day and now the team will learn a lesson from this match and move forward. Yes, India can still win the ICC World Cup because a loss does not mean that the team is out of the tournament. Great teams lift themselves off the ground and the Indian team is capable of doing that. That is why it is important that instead of pointing fingers at other players for the defeat against Pakistan, stand with the team.
Shaheen Shah Afridi started his spell with a bang and dismissed both openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. After this, Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed after playing a bad shot and was caught by Mohammad Rizwan, who later batted tremendously with captain Babar Azam, giving the team victory without losing any wicket. It was a win that would give the team the confidence that they are a very strong team. Pakistan now has to face New Zealand. Of course, this match may not be so big for the spectators, but Pakistan will have to play this match with the same vigor as the game it showed against India. New Zealand’s team has a hidden system and has the ability to surprise the opposing teams.
Another match will see a match between South Africa and West Indies, the two teams that lost their opening matches. Both the teams will step on the field with the intention of opening an account in the points table. South Africa defended a small target in the match against Australia, reaching the final over, which shows the fighting spirit of this team. On the other hand, the West Indies team performed modestly in their first match and they will have to make a big effort to come back with a bang. The Windies team has some of the most formidable players in this format who are capable of making a comeback from impossible situations. Now that the much-awaited match is over, the ICC World Cup can proceed as normal and fans can watch some other great players from across the subcontinent.
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