There have been surprises at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. In the group stage, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands were the four teams to progress to the Super12, which is divided into two groups.
The Netherlands progressed because the UAE, after two losses, beat Namibia to deny the African team their chance to progress. The West Indies tumbled out of the tournament in abject fashion, losing to both Ireland and Scotland.
In the first matches of Super12, New Zealand convincingly beat Australia, the favorites. Another surprise has been the incidence of rain. Having affected a number of the pre-tournament warmup matches, the bad weather has spread into the Super12. On Wednesday, the last five overs could not be bowled in the England-Ireland match, leaving Ireland victorious, an upset, while no play was possible between Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Rain was the root of some controversy in the South Africa-Zimbabwe match in Hobart. Officials in cricket are normally extremely cautious about allowing play to take place in the rain, mainly because of injury risk to players. On occasion, this has irked spectators, who can see no reason for no play, especially when the ground looks dry and the sun is out. In Hobart, the match was reduced to nine overs per side, which Zimbabwe managed to negotiate, scoring 79. South Africa’s frantic response was interrupted by rain, which got steadily heavier. One of Zimbabwe’s quick bowlers slipped and injured his ankle, but play was allowed to continue until conditions worsened further, South Africa requiring only 13 runs in the 24 balls remaining. Both sides were aggrieved.
The stakes are so high for all concerned. Pressure is on from media and organizers to ensure that matches are played. Umpires have to balance this with injury risk and the game’s image, while the teams know that each point is precious. South Africa, for example, are only too well aware that fate has dealt them cruel blows in previous tournaments. As recently as the 2021 T20 World Cup, they failed to qualify for the semifinals because of an inferior net run rate caused by a slow start in their opening matches. Hence the frantic start to their innings against Zimbabwe.
Whether such considerations make for better cricket is a moot point.
Fortunately, they did not apply to the clash between India and Pakistan in Melbourne. It was, by any account, one of the finest T20 matches ever played. Chasing a target of 160, India slumped to 31 for four in the sixth over. Slowly, India rebuilt its innings through Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, reaching 144 for five before Pandya was out to the first ball of the final over. Imagine what it must feel like to be bowling the final over of a T20 match between Pakistan and India in front of 90,000 spectators and millions watching live on TV and online streams. The responsibility to bowl was handed to Mohammad Nawaz, a left-arm spinner.
After success with his first ball, the second was placed for a single by the new striker, bringing Kohli on strike. He scored a two, so with three balls remaining thirteen runs were required, the odds with Pakistan. Then, Nawaz bowled a ball above waist high first, adjudged a no-ball, which Kohli hit for six. The no-ball earned not only one run, but a free-hit on the next ball. Kohli missed in his attempt to strike the ball, which hit the wicket and careered off, allowing three runs, counting as extras, to be acquired, as a striker cannot be out bowled on a free hit. This left three runs required from two balls. On the fifth ball, Dinesh Karthik was stumped. The immense pressure on the bowler for the sixth ball resulted in him bowling a wide down the leg side that the new striker left alone to earn both an extra run and an extra ball, which he hit for a single to bring victory for India and despair for Pakistan.
Amongst this drama, one of the best-ever T20 innings had been played by Virat Kohli, who steered his team to victory when all seemed lost against their arch-rivals. This has repaired a battered image. Starting in 2012, Kohli became his country’s most successful captain in Test cricket and, as captain of T20 Internationals and One Day Internationals, fourth overall. His aggressive, intimidating, self-confident, win-orientated style of leadership earned him much adoration but also a few critics.
In September 2021, Kohli announced that he would stand down as T20 captain after the T20 World Cup in the UAE in November but continue as ODI and Test captain. India failed to make the semifinals and this, combined with failure to win other tournaments in 2019 and 2021, led to mounting criticism. On Dec. 8, 2021, he claimed that he was told that there would be a change of leadership for the 50-over format as the selectors preferred to have one person captain both short format sides.
On Jan. 15, 2022, after a series loss in South Africa, Kohli announced his resignation as Test captain. In a little over two months, he went from being leader across all three formats to leader in none. Fingers were pointed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly, a former Indian captain. In recent months, Kohli’s performance has declined to the point where his place in the team has been questioned.
The innings against Pakistan quelled this trend. His admirers have also taken great comfort because, recently, the BCCI chose neither to extend Ganguly’s presidency nor to nominate him for ICC chair. Some suspect political interference.
Cricket has an infinite capacity to generate drama and excitement, by virtue of its quirky laws and playing conditions, but also through the political machinations of those who administer the game. So far in this T20 World Cup, these have been displayed in abundance, with rain adding an unexpected variable to the unfolding drama.