Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Oh there was more than just a back injury behind why Sachin didn't come out, seeing as Sachin didn't come out for the presentation ceremony because he was, how shall I put it, 'shedding man tears' after the loss. He took the blame for that loss, and Raj Singh Dungarpur has openly admitted that after he went up to him following India's loss, Tendulkar was weeping, and had no desire to come out and accept the man of the match award.honestbharani said:yeah, but Prasad was a spinner.
Kidding. I do think that both matches were almost of equal quality, but the state of the pitch on the last day at Chennai means I will probably give it to the Chennai test by the slightest bit imaginable. But IMHO, I do think that match should be under a bit of a match fixing cloud. Nothing came out of enquiries but I refuse to believe that Mongia would have thought that the shot he played was the best option under the circumstances. I have a feeling that there was more than just a back injury behind Sachin not coming out for the presentation ceremony.
Personally I think you're jumping the gun regarding the 'match-fixing cloud', that game meant far too much to both teams. Call me naive, but India were truly devastated to lose that match, and I can argue a similar thing whereby I 'refuse to believe' that Andrew Hall's shot against Australia in the epic 434 chase was 'the best option under the circumstances'. All they needed was 2 runs ro win from 4 balls, and he tried to smack a 4 and almost cost the SA the game. Its called pressure, and I reckon it just got to Mongia. Doesn't mean I don't call him a "stupid yellow helmet wearing bugger" everytime I see him, because it makes me think of that match, but I just believe he stuffed up.