[RaghuVis]

I had mixed emotions about seeing Afghanistan defeat the Aussies.

Positives:
1. Thrilled for Afghanistan. What a moment for them!
2. Happy that India supported them in their time of need and it is showing.
3. Hope India Thrash Australia and send them out.

Negatives:
1. Aussies needed a jolt in Semis and not before. Now it is like they will regroup and become better.
2. I wanted India to lose at least one match before Knock-Out. I'm tired of becoming sad, to be honest.
3. If India loses against Aussies and they reach Semi, it is almost impossible to stop them. On the other hand, if India wins, we will again knock out the stage thinking that we are invincible. What a conundrum!


PS: Aussies are currently champions of everything else:
1. ODI Men's World Cup winner.
2. ODI Women's World Cup winner.
3. T20 Women's World Cup winner.
4. ICC Test Championship winner.

The only thing left to get is the T20 Men's World Cup. Hats off to their winning mentality across the formats.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by RaghuVis

if India wins, we will again knock out the stage thinking that we are invincible. What a conundrum!

I think its more important for India to beat Australia so as to top the Group considering there's no reserve day for the 2nd semi-final at Guyana where there is a forecast for rain! The entire schedule is tailormade for India. Just hope they win when it matters. Team India themselves know they haven't really been tested in this tournament barring the Pakistan game.

[Revvatron]

This South African team seems different. Multiple times in this edition including today's match against WI, they won from a situation where they would absolutely loose it in previous world cups. Maybe this is the year they do it.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by RaghuVis

I had mixed emotions about seeing Afghanistan defeat the Aussies.

Negatives:
1. Aussies needed a jolt in Semis and not before. Now it is like they will regroup and become better.
2. I wanted India to lose at least one match before Knock-Out. I'm tired of becoming sad, to be honest.
3. If India loses against Aussies and they reach Semi, it is almost impossible to stop them. On the other hand, if India wins, we will again knock out the stage thinking that we are invincible. What a conundrum!

I don't understand this logic so many Indian fans have. Why will you want your team to lose even a single match. Whoever has played the game or playing it knows extremely well what massive confidence booster a winning momentum is for the team. Just because we got outplayed in Wc23 final because of losing toss and batting first on a dicey pitch which played better in second innings, doesn't mean we should want our team to lose a single game before knockouts.

Look at Aussies. They would have loved to stay undefeated and will ever sacrifice a game. They had perfect chance to lose against Scotland and throw their nemesis England out but they didn't. That's their winning mentality of winning each game. Their is no jinx or something like this when you are on field. Only good and bad performances. Because Afghan boys defeated them, now some doubts would have certainly creeped in about their strategy and team composition. This will help us against them if game happens tonight forcast permitting.

Plus added advantage if we win today and Afghanistan tomorrow then Aussies are out. This will be the best outcome for our chances in tournament and some relief for that WC23 final loss.

And we should think we are invincible. Overconfidence is always better in the game than lack of confidence in knockouts.

Originally Posted by PPS

I think its more important for India to beat Australia so as to top the Group considering there's no reserve day for the 2nd semi-final at Guyana where there is a forecast for rain! The entire schedule is tailormade for India. Just hope they win when it matters. Team India themselves know they haven't really been tested in this tournament barring the Pakistan game.

Yup.
That's a stupid thing from ICC, not having a reserve day for 2nd semis. So, if it's washed out then table topper moves to final. Hence, we need to win tonight and top the table to be sure. Although our run rate is so good even if we lose we won't lose badly and still be able to top the table. I hope the game happens. Most awaited game this tournament.

[Vinod_nair]

When will Virat Kohli click? In a Ranji match? Time for BCCI to pull up it's socks.

[Haze]

Originally Posted by Vinod_nair

When will Virat Kohli click? In a Ranji match? Time for BCCI to pull up it's socks.

For that we need to play at Chinnaswamy, with its National Highway of a pitch, and total stadium size of an average city's traffic junction/roundabout.

[AtheK]

So funny to see so many empty seats for such a high profile match. Kohli should move back to #3 clearly he is good club level opener but been wanting at international stage.

I really hope he fires now, his international career for T20 probably has last one or two matches. I hope he plays two more and signs off with century in both.

[SoumenD]

Woah what a delivery by Starc. They needed something special to get the better of Rohit. What a splendid knock. Hope others don't let the momentum slip. A win here would be a huge confidence booster considering Aussies have been India's nemesis in most ICC events.

Only way to keep Australia away from the cup is by knocking them out before the knock-outs start

A final between SA & Ind would be great to watch. The clash of Chokers

[harry10]

Rohit was
One of the best ball striking we will see.
Hardik and SKY did their part.
Hope Kohli comes to party soon.

Bumrah, Kuldeep and Axar were superb. Jaddu has fallen out so bad but can't change him now as this bowling combination is best for these pitches.

Only change for semis should be Pant opening with Rohit and Kohli batting at 3. That will provide more stability as Kohli opening ain't working and too late for Jaiswal to come in now.

[sachinayak]

When the current team was chosen for the world cup, almost everyone criticized the selection. But almost every team member has stepped up when it mattered and have covered up for other's lapses.

Another 2 matches to go, hopefully.

[Nano45]

What a fantastic knock by Hitman. Such clean hitting, 100mtrs slog sweep six is just. Captain leading from the front. This boosts the moral confidence for knockouts.
Hope Kohli comes into action in the semis. India will be unstoppable if he steps up.

Until then cheering for Afghanistan to win against Bangladesh.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Vinod_nair

When will Virat Kohli click? In a Ranji match? Time for BCCI to pull up it's socks.

Originally Posted by Haze

For that we need to play at Chinnaswamy, with its National Highway of a pitch, and total stadium size of an average city's traffic junction/roundabout.

Just for kicks and with no disrespect to him, I would like King Kohli to wake up soon!





As that (in)famous slogan of a yesteryears television show loudly proclaimed:

Chain se jeena hain to jaag jao!

* * *

Aside, what a knock by the Hitman. Hope he maintains the momentum till the end of the tournament. The cup drought has gone on for far too long. It is in his interests to put an end to it before things turn Gambhir (pun intended)!!!

[rx100]

What? Gulbadin trying football tactics
That’s very poor acting

[ValarMorghulis]

What's this idiotic play by Bangladesh? What's the point of this useless win?

They should have at least tried to win to make it to the semifinals. A win like this is of no use!! :|

[ninjatalli]

There are folks from 5 countries praying on the outcome of this playoff match

1. Afghanistan - for an obvious win.
2. Bangladesh - now only for a win for honor perspective
3. Australia - wishing for a Bangladesh to scamper through somehow so they can head to SFs
4. South Africa - wishing for a Afghanistan win so they get a relatively "easier" SF
5. India - the majority wishing for Australia to be kicked out for sure