IND v ENG, Lagaan 2024 & Baapu Sending Englishmen Back Home

We are back with Match 3. It was Delayed due to Rain, Not Guyana but Hyderabad one. It took almost midnight 2 to finish the semis and going to office sleep deprived and here I am. Energy is low but Josh is high sir.

Rain & English Tears

We as Indian fans have habit of worrying about the past with present matches. We did that with IND v AUS and here too with IND v ENG. Sequel to 2022 T20 world cup. Lagaan mode was activated among all the Indians and unlike the movie rain was in full swing . As the rain poured down, we hoped for a washout that would secure our passage, though a part of us sympathized with the English tears as they do that consistently led vocally by Michael Vaughan.

The Toss and Batting Woes

We finally got a start an hour later and when England won the toss and opted to bowl, the 2022 trauma resurfaced. Visualizing another England chase. We started with belief and Rohit started where he left with a boundary against left arm pacer, lol.

Virat slogged one over the ropes and we started visualizing Kohli day again and mirroring the same shot shuffling around wickets he was bowled. We hardly see Kohli out of action in T20WCs . Hard to believe the man who carried team every tournament was struggling with runs. Rishabh came and Rishabh goes.

Rohit and Surya's Masterclass

Despite rain interruptions, Rohit’s gameplay on a tricky wicket and Surya’s precision in finding gaps kept the scoreboard ticking. Thought both of them might just get out with break but no they came with a plan and kept scoreboard in check. Shocking to see Rohit not slogging spinners but that was wise from him as wicket like that needed a set batsman and he did what was needed.

We see a lot of stump mic commentary from Rohit and there was one more here again....”Upar daalega toh deta hu na” aur bhai ne Livingstone ko kheech ke diya.

Surya was sweeping and it was heartening to see him getting runs as he wasn't able to do that in knockouts for India previously and he proved how good a player he is on difficult wicket. Rohit bringing his fifty with a glorious shot had every Indian smiling. They knew a man is making sure we are not having another trauma.

Both of them took us through a strong 70 run partnership and we were slightly in a better position. Rohit was foxed by Rashid with odd one keeping low and innings slowed down. Sky too holed out in next over and we had both of set batters down.

The Gujju Finish

Hardik with consecutive sixes brought back momentum just like Bangladesh game and Jadeja, Axar got us to above par score of 171. I was just praying we cross 167 (score of 2022 Semis) and Axar's six made it possible. Saw Sanjay manjrekar criticizing Jadeja and he had 17 off 9. We have seen this before! (Ind vs NZ 2019 WC semis).

England’s Chase: A Spinners’ Delight

Back in the chase kept fingers crossed for Buttler's wicket and he started smashing boundaries. 3 overs for 26-0 . T20 World Cup Knock out match wicket column was empty from 2022 & Baapu opened the account and who better than Buttler.

He was followed by our GOATrah and he with his speed variations confused salt and he went to slog the wrong one and his stumps got rattled. How good a bowler he has been! Economy rate of 4.12 with 13 wickets. Absolute GEM 💎 

Golden Boy and Baapu : Heroes of the Night

Then Baapu's bunny Bairstow was showed pavilion and Moeen ali was victim of pant's stunning stumping. What presence of mind that! Thala's student end of the day.

Brook was playing with better technique adapting the pitch and was looking in great touch but it was our golden boy who dismantled his stumps and he kept striking with his googlies and hit pads a couple of times.

68-6 after 10 overs, I should be relaxed right? no, I was after Livingstone's wicket and Archer helped with runout. It got them to103 and they were defeated by 1 run from Rohit & Surya (57+47= 104). That partnership was the match and Rohit SKY both awakening at the right time helped.

A Sweet Revenge and Emotional Scenes

Rohit was very confident with batting first at toss and it proved to be a spin wicket keeping low and skiddy. His 4 spinner strategy before World cup was quite visible now with result.

We finally avenged 2022 defeat ! Lagaan 2024 version!! Very satisfying!

The emotional scenes in the dressing room mirrored a happy mix of 2019 and 2022 World Cups. Backing Kohli in the post-match presentation, Rohit expressed belief in his ability quoting, “He’s saving for the Finals”. We believe in King and it’s his time to lift it up.

The Final Bound

As we prepare to face South Africa in Barbados, the anticipation for a final showdown is palpable. With hopes high for a special RohiRat performance on possibly their One Last Dance in T20s, we eagerly await Sunday’s clash anxiously.

See you on Sunday for Match 4 with coffee n trophee hopefully 🤞 

Jai Hind!