Australia's 328 for 7 against India in the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday was the highest target ever in a World Cup semifinal. But the Indian team seemed capable of chasing it down. At least in the beginning. At least in the first few overs. At least till the captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was at the crease. But in the end, it proved to be 95 runs too many, as the Indian innings painfully came to an end at 233, with 19 balls still to go.
O captain, our captain
While Dhoni provided hope in a hopeless situation, it seemed too little, too late. Despite two successive sixes, even before he was run out with a patient 65 in 65 balls, leaving India at 231 for 7 in the 45th over, it was clear that the Indian campaign was over.
In addition to the heartbreak of the loss, there seemed added poignancy in the realisation that the Indian captain may have played the last World Cup match of his illustrious career, and speculation mounted that Dhoni might call it a day from One Day Internationals as well, once the match got over. But he put all such talk to rest in the presentation ceremony, even keeping alive the hope of his fans for World Cup 2019.
Before that, though, there were reality checks.
The shame
While the nation, so to speak, was still coming to terms with all this, the self-appointed spokesperson for the nation's conscience decided to give utterance to what it called was the voice of the billion people and started a hashtag called #ShamedinSydney.
While the captain was still addressing the post-match press-conference, the channel set the tone for what it thought was wrong: "He could've said this is the worst day of my life."
So-called experts were soon frothing at the mouth, remembering the vice-captain's role as well: "With the platform set for him did Virat Kohli need a rush of blood?"
All this while, the ticker went crazy with lines like: "Team India Let Down Billion People" and "India Thrashed and Sent Packing".
As more bile was spewed out, in what was clearly a scripted show, the disgust on Twitter was spontaneous.
Pretty soon, though, instead of #ShameinSydney, what was trending on Twitter was #ShameonTimesNow
The lost match
Let's not forget though that India's hopes of making a match of it were kept alive in the first few overs, and India seemed almost capable till the 13th over when Shikhar Dhawan got out for 45, leaving India at 76 for 1, but received a huge set back once Virat Kohli got out for 1. India were suddenly 78 for 2 in the 16th over.
That's when the countdown started, as some agitated fans blamed his girlfriend Anushka Sharma, who was present in the stadium, for his dismal performance. Soon, the hashtags changed from #WontGiveItBack to #TakeItBack and even #WeAreHandingItAwayOnASilverPlatter as the inevitability of the defeat began to sink in and fans found refuge in humour to cope with the sense of loss, trying to laugh it away in silly tweets. Here’s a selection.
Captain cool
Before that, despite the loss, the day belonged to Mahendra Singh Dhoni as fans raved over his standing tall among ruins.
Much before that, though, almost everyone joined in, even politicians.
O captain, our captain
While Dhoni provided hope in a hopeless situation, it seemed too little, too late. Despite two successive sixes, even before he was run out with a patient 65 in 65 balls, leaving India at 231 for 7 in the 45th over, it was clear that the Indian campaign was over.
In addition to the heartbreak of the loss, there seemed added poignancy in the realisation that the Indian captain may have played the last World Cup match of his illustrious career, and speculation mounted that Dhoni might call it a day from One Day Internationals as well, once the match got over. But he put all such talk to rest in the presentation ceremony, even keeping alive the hope of his fans for World Cup 2019.
Dhoni: "Around the World Twenty20 next year, that's when I will decide whether I can play the 2019 World Cup"
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 26, 2015
Before that, though, there were reality checks.
Good time to remind ourselves that team #IND wasn't even supposed to reach the Quarter Finals. So proud that they got this far. Well played.
— Raheel Khursheed (@Raheelk) March 26, 2015
The shame
While the nation, so to speak, was still coming to terms with all this, the self-appointed spokesperson for the nation's conscience decided to give utterance to what it called was the voice of the billion people and started a hashtag called #ShamedinSydney.
Times Now has #ShamedInSydney as a hashtag running. Shameful channel, really.
— Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) March 26, 2015
@RohanV I am watching right now...this is seriously messed up, even by TN standards. "100s and 100s of lives sacrificed" WTF??
— Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) March 26, 2015
While the captain was still addressing the post-match press-conference, the channel set the tone for what it thought was wrong: "He could've said this is the worst day of my life."
So-called experts were soon frothing at the mouth, remembering the vice-captain's role as well: "With the platform set for him did Virat Kohli need a rush of blood?"
All this while, the ticker went crazy with lines like: "Team India Let Down Billion People" and "India Thrashed and Sent Packing".
As more bile was spewed out, in what was clearly a scripted show, the disgust on Twitter was spontaneous.
Rubbish TRP terror ? MT @jhunjhunwala: 6 weeks of duty, pain,team goes down .This is garbage Times Now runs pic.twitter.com/TAK3NlaNlG
— dilip cherian (@DILIPtheCHERIAN) March 26, 2015
Lynch mob going strong, led by the tv channel that made it's reputation on being the lynch mob. #shameonyou No shame #TeamIndia #IndvAus
— smruti (@urjourno) March 26, 2015
Watching @TimesNow post-match coverage it feels like India were knocked out in the pre-qualifiers and not the semis. Relax karo, bhai.
— Umair Javed (@umairjav) March 26, 2015
@RohanV TN ideation meeting: #1. Who is India angry with today? #2: Umm, I think they're just sad #1: We don't do sad. DON'T ANGRY ME
— Pierre Fitter (@pierrefitter) March 26, 2015
Pretty soon, though, instead of #ShameinSydney, what was trending on Twitter was #ShameonTimesNow
#ShameOnTimesNow is #2 Twitter trend worldwide after @TimesNow tried to trend 'ShamedinSydney' http://t.co/mqo6dHAZUy pic.twitter.com/1AxuIjdLBb
— Reddit India (@redditindia) March 26, 2015
The lost match
Let's not forget though that India's hopes of making a match of it were kept alive in the first few overs, and India seemed almost capable till the 13th over when Shikhar Dhawan got out for 45, leaving India at 76 for 1, but received a huge set back once Virat Kohli got out for 1. India were suddenly 78 for 2 in the 16th over.
That's when the countdown started, as some agitated fans blamed his girlfriend Anushka Sharma, who was present in the stadium, for his dismal performance. Soon, the hashtags changed from #WontGiveItBack to #TakeItBack and even #WeAreHandingItAwayOnASilverPlatter as the inevitability of the defeat began to sink in and fans found refuge in humour to cope with the sense of loss, trying to laugh it away in silly tweets. Here’s a selection.
Exclusive pic of Ravi Shastri. #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/emuWFws3o9
— Adarsh Raj Thackeray (@Madan_Chikna) March 26, 2015
Feeling bad For Virat Kohli though. He just missed his century. By 99 runs.
— Indian memes (@ThePseudoGenius) March 26, 2015
Meanwhile in India. #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/0TK3XJsj6I
— Sir Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) March 26, 2015
Ravi Shastri must take responsibility & return back the Audi car which he won in Australia in 1983
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) March 26, 2015
Ravi Shastri and Duncan Fletcher must resign! ~ Ravishankar Prasad
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala) March 26, 2015
33+ crore devi devatao ka kya fayda?
— Rajiv K Mishra (@rajivjournalist) March 26, 2015
Indian fans right now. #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/86q9EApl9v
— oldschoolmonk (@oldschoolmonk) March 26, 2015
Set max pe Border aa rahi hai, wahan India jeet rahi hai. Main ab wahi dekhungi #WeWontGiveItBack #IndvsAus
— Nidhi Bisht (@EkThapaTiger) March 26, 2015
How India deals with failure. RT @ANI_news: Ranchi: Security beefed-up outside MS Dhoni's residence. pic.twitter.com/pySj9nDqeN
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) March 26, 2015
I see this one very Indian looking guy in the crowd supporting Australia. He's the Lakha of today's match. #INDvsAUS
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) March 26, 2015
Flight back home #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/3vOl3tFMU0
— Aysh Baig (@ayeshabaig128) March 26, 2015
They should trade union leaders from Bengal and Kerala to Sydney.That's one way to increase the strike rate #IndvsAus #CWC15 #WorldcupwithHT
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) March 26, 2015
What did Anushka Sharma tell Virat Kohli before he went out to bat today? "Virat, I want you here in 5 minutes." :D #CWC15 #AUSvsIND
— Chirag Bhaiya (@chiragbhaiya) March 26, 2015
Hashtag for 2019 World Cup #WeLeftKohliAtHomeThisTime
— Raveena4Life (@sidin) March 26, 2015
They won because they eat beef #IndvsAus
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) March 26, 2015
The World Cup is over. Kohli can now focus on his relationship with Anushka and Jadeja can focus on his relationship with his hair.
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala) March 26, 2015
Feeling across India right now #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/AE7wEDMoIr
— मेहरान (@mehranzaidi) March 26, 2015
Captain cool
Before that, despite the loss, the day belonged to Mahendra Singh Dhoni as fans raved over his standing tall among ruins.
O Captain, My Captain. Forever pic.twitter.com/dHsEYj2l3z
— Harneet Singh (@Harneetsin) March 26, 2015
Dhoni's greatness lies in the fact that people were still watching (and clinging on to 1% hope) with 101 off six overs. Mighty might player — Sidvee (@sidvee) March 26, 2015
Dhoni: First demonstrated how openers should have hung around. Now demonstrating how middle-order should take singles. Next, slogging. — Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 26, 2015
Much before that, though, almost everyone joined in, even politicians.
Dear Bangladesh, we are sorry you were cheated out of taking the cup home but please take back nazar you have applied to team India. Thanks.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) March 26, 2015
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