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. What South Africa did was to undo the lethargy or waywardness of their earlier outings and concentrate on each aspect of the game _ batting, bowling and fielding. It worked magnificently, it must be said. The one man who took the fight to the rival camp was David Miller who lashed the sphere all around the park enough to confuse the bowlers as to where to pitch the ball to him!

If the Indian bowling dipped after the initial show of promise then the batting that followed lacked the conviction of the past to fall apart. When Ishan Kishan, the hero of the team thanks to his generous contributions earlier, left early the gloom seemed to set in and it did not take long to fully engulf the team. Cheers in the stands gave way to moans and as India crashed to what statistics said, its biggest defeat in terms of runs in the T20 World Cup the misery was complete. For South Africa there was also the satisfaction of downing a rival which had denied it the title two years ago! How fortunes swing!

Not that this defeat is a death blow for India. These are still days but one thing was clear, the rude shock should wake up the defending champion to the realities and tougher challenges ahead. When the competition gets tough, the tough gets going, is a common phrase in sports. Perhaps India needs to do just that for this is a kind of cricket where clearly reputation and so called might may not work but the day’s performance in keeping with those qualities. If India’s was the biggest example of what can happen to a seemingly confident outfit then the early group phase of the World Cup provided enough ups and down to demonstrate the uncertainty that rules the fortunes of each competitor.

Consider the fate of Australia. A former champion, this was the first time since 2009 that the team did not find a place in the super-8 stage. And here is a side which had only recently completed a 4-1 drubbing of England in the Ashes series. Somehow these are not great times for Australia in cricket. Just as the men trooped out of this ICC event head down, came the news of Indian women making history by winning their first T20 series against Australia in a decade! Now, should that not inspire the Men in Blue! Perhaps it will as the competition progresses because India still has enough work ahead to prove a point or two.

One noticeable aspect of this limited-over variety of cricket is the opportunity it provided for lesser known nations in the sport to yearn for a place in the limelight with some plucky performances. Nepal, Namibia, Scotland (which had a lucky entry after Bangladesh withdrew), Italy ,Oman, USA, UAE, Netherlands, Canada and Ireland provided eye-openers to observers with the team abilities. England for instance, considered the next best to India in ratings, almost stumbled its way past teams like Nepal, Scotland and Italy! Most other top nations would have similar stories to narrate on the new challenges that the sport has brought in. Consider Italy, the debutant. A nation known for its football highs and now trying to gain a grip on what is the other popular sport in the world! Cricket in Nepal is said to be flourishing. Nepal may not have done much in the world cup. There is a future that is awaiting.

All that about the lesser experienced sides was fine but, in the end not one of them could make it to the last eight or the super-8. But the indications are clear that the future holds a bigger promise from them. Finally, then what would be the journey ahead? Aside from the stress on the field, would nature too play a part? Already, rain had spoiled matches in Sri Lanka, the co-hosts and these could prove vital in this phase. Whatever may be the fate of each team, one thing is for sure, the tussle between the bat and the ball would only intensify. It will no longer be about big hitting but biggest hitters, that would come to focus. Perhaps the safest prediction at this juncture is may the best team win!

© Mathrubhumi English