Here is an edited audio file of what I said on ‘How’s That?’ the show on DD Sports on Saturday evening after India lost its ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Group B match to South Africa in Nagpur.
I spoke of how India should have played leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in that game, especially after the team had given him match practice and the opportunity to gain confidence by playing him in the earlier match against the Netherlands. I also spoke of how Yusuf Pathan should be held back for the conventional slog overs rather than be used in Batting Powerplay.
It was hard to ignore Sachin Tendulkar’s hundred but tougher to ignore Dale Steyn’s role in not just picking up five wickets but also in boosting the team’s confidence, going into the innings break and at the start of the chase. I also picked AB de Villiers’ half century as the most critical in terms of South Africa’s push for victory.
Former India wicket-keeper Surinder Khanna was the other guest on the show that was hosted by my colleague Tina Sharma Tiwari.
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