New Delhi: Last year, Team India has been formidable in white clothing. Led by Virat Kohli the team has maintained a Numero uno position in Test. Even in the ODI’s the team is just below the proteas in the ranking. The team has also impressed in the shortest format of the game and placed at third in T20 ranking. Despite a 360 degree performance, team India has faced a luckless equation which has haunted them for four consecutive years.
It all started in 2014, where Lanka stopped the winning streak of team India in the final of T20 WC. India was looking invincible in that tournament, but they lost to SriLanka.The next year men in blue surrendered before Aussies in the semi-final of ODI WC in 2015. The Australia went on to win the WC final against Newzealand. Men in blue faced the same fate in 2016 when they lost to West Indies in the semi-final. Likewise Australia, West-Indies also defeated England dramatically in the last over. In 2017, it looked like India will take the trophy easily as they were facing Pakistan in the final. However, Pakistan outclassed India in all the departments and earned a historic win.
The inability of men in blue to pack the final punch in ICC tournaments has been a issue for past four years. The good thing is that there is no ICC tournament this year. Let’s hope this long break from an ICC event proves to be a blessing in disguise and India cross the finishing line in upcoming 2019 ODI WC. (WD)