Déjà vu, India then, now Australia make an early exit too

The ICC 2007 ODI World Cup will always be remembered more for India and Pakistan’s early exit and the Bob Woolmer tragedy, than the Aussies 3rd consecutive triumph. It sent shockwaves across the cricketing world and a change of guard in the way the two teams worked. Well, there is a sense of familiarity in the ouster of Australia in the ongoing ICC World T20 Championship. Let’s take a moment here and talk about India’s departure in the last ODI World Cup. After their stupendous show in the 2003 edition, going all the way to the final, India were tipped to go a step further and lay their hands on the Cup after 20 years. They were grouped with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda, earning the title of the Group of Death. It was the only cluster having a team – Bangladesh, who had an outside chance of qualifying for the Super Eights and spoiling the party for the top two big guns in the group. Rest they say, is history, as Bangladesh did turn out to be the party poopers for India, defeating them comfortably and leaving their fate hanging in balance till the last group game against Sri Lanka. The Lankan team then put the final nail in India’s coffin.
Well, that was then, but the sub-continent team has once again scripted the fate of another powerhouse. The Australian team was grouped with the West Indies and Sri Lanka in the ICC World T20, currently in progress. This was surely a group of death with three top notch teams vying for two spots, to avoid a 1st round exit in the prestigious tournament. For the Aussies, it was the only trophy missing from their cabinet and many expected them to fill the void ala Roger Federer at French Open. But, destiny and the team estimated to be the weakest link in the pool - the West Indies, had other plans. Led by skipper Chris Gayle, the Caribbean team mauled the ostentatious Aussies in the first group game, putting them to shame, winning with more than 4 overs to spare, despite chasing 170. What a pity! Next up were the Sri Lankans in the must win game for Australia. The start was torrid, and the end, even more horrid. Out went the Kangaroos, earning no accolades, only boos. Sri Lanka had done it again, getting glory, giving pain, another big gun slain. As for India, if everything continues to go similarly to the script written 2 years ago, the defending T20 Champions can hope to retain the Cup as did Australia with ‘Punter’, ‘Gilli” and ‘Pup’.

Picture Courtesy: Cricketnext.com