Absolutely stunned. That was what happened to the 90,000 plus crowd at the Narendra Modi stadium after watching India collapse to South Africa in a super eight contest of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Sadly, the fans in Ahmedabad seem to be slowly getting used to this kind of unexpected end in cricket apparently! Just little over two years ago a similarly packed stadium had witnessed India's downfall in the ODI world cup at the hands of Australia. If that was unthinkable then the latest happening too bordered on similar sentiments for if anything the home team was one of those which had rode on some good shows earlier to stride in with a touch of confidence in this tournament as the defending champion. South Africa on the other hand seemed rickety in the earlier phase, even avoiding a defeat against Afghanistan with the second super over helping them to enact an escape act and avoid the embarrassment.

Indeed, competition at the highest level can always bring forth complications for there is so much at stake and there is sky high pressure to deal with. On that eventful Sunday it was clear only one team seemed ready for the occasion and that was South Africa while India believed it had the strength to deal with any situation only it did not have a plan B to ensure steadiness just in case of an emergency.........

© Mathrubhumi English