Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Misbah's innings was weird, yes. But Hafeez' shot, in my humble opinion, was the critical moment of the match.
Yes Pakistan dropped catches, but at the end of the day 260 was chaseable if they played sensibly. Hafeez was creaming boundaries, and the pitch was always one whereby it was hard to come in in the middle order and play against the soft ball. If Hafeez had hung around another 8-10 overs it would have been a different ball game.
Obviously there are various moments that turned the match. Sachin being dropped, Gul's awful bowling. Harbhajan getting Umar (who was spanking them) etc. But at the end of the day, Hafeez' wicket was absolutely brainless. Just disgusting batting.
I still believe Ashwin should have played instead of Nehra, but credit where it is due, Nehra bowled absolutely brilliantly on this pitch. He, and Dhoni, read it well. He knew how to bowl on it, with cutters, slower balls and stump to stump (or just outside off). He was fantastic.
The funny thing is Zaheer was seriously off his game tonight. But if there was ever a night for that to happen, it was when Nehra and Munaf actually bowled well on the other end.
For me Harbhajan is still a concern. Ideally we'd play Ashwin ahead of him if we play 3 seamers, but that is about as likely as me having *** with Jessica Alba tomorrow. So if that's the case, you'd have to think we have to play 3 seamers against Sri Lanka since they play spin far better than Pakistan do. Unless the wicket is a turner, Ashwin probably won't be selected.
Will be a tough decision.
Also Gambhir is injured. That seems to have not been mentioned here. I'm pretty sure he pulled his hamstring, and there isn't much of a break between now and the final. We might see Kohli move to 3, Yuvraj to 4 etc. and Yusuf be forced back into the team and bat at 7.
Despite Gambhir's **** dismissal this match, it is a MASSIVE loss for India if he is out for the final.
Yes Pakistan dropped catches, but at the end of the day 260 was chaseable if they played sensibly. Hafeez was creaming boundaries, and the pitch was always one whereby it was hard to come in in the middle order and play against the soft ball. If Hafeez had hung around another 8-10 overs it would have been a different ball game.
Obviously there are various moments that turned the match. Sachin being dropped, Gul's awful bowling. Harbhajan getting Umar (who was spanking them) etc. But at the end of the day, Hafeez' wicket was absolutely brainless. Just disgusting batting.
I still believe Ashwin should have played instead of Nehra, but credit where it is due, Nehra bowled absolutely brilliantly on this pitch. He, and Dhoni, read it well. He knew how to bowl on it, with cutters, slower balls and stump to stump (or just outside off). He was fantastic.
The funny thing is Zaheer was seriously off his game tonight. But if there was ever a night for that to happen, it was when Nehra and Munaf actually bowled well on the other end.
For me Harbhajan is still a concern. Ideally we'd play Ashwin ahead of him if we play 3 seamers, but that is about as likely as me having *** with Jessica Alba tomorrow. So if that's the case, you'd have to think we have to play 3 seamers against Sri Lanka since they play spin far better than Pakistan do. Unless the wicket is a turner, Ashwin probably won't be selected.
Will be a tough decision.
Also Gambhir is injured. That seems to have not been mentioned here. I'm pretty sure he pulled his hamstring, and there isn't much of a break between now and the final. We might see Kohli move to 3, Yuvraj to 4 etc. and Yusuf be forced back into the team and bat at 7.
Despite Gambhir's **** dismissal this match, it is a MASSIVE loss for India if he is out for the final.
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