Date: September 19th, 2012.
Location: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Event: ICC World T20 Group A - India vs Afghanistan.
The opening match of India's 2012 T20 World Cup campaign carried a festive atmosphere. The Premadasa Stadium was bathed in floodlights, the humidity was stifling, and the rhythmic beat of the Papare bands echoed through the stands. Afghanistan, the spirited underdogs, were ready to face the tournament favorites.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Siddanth Deva, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Irfan Pathan, R. Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Pragyan Ojha.
The Toss: Nawroz Mangal spun the coin. MS Dhoni called Tails. It landed Heads. Afghanistan chose to bowl first, hoping to restrict the star-studded Indian lineup and chase under the dew.
Dhoni smiled at the presenter. "We wanted to bat anyway. The pitch looks like a belter, and we want to give our top order a good hit."
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli walked out to the middle.
Shapoor Zadran, the tall left-arm pacer, took the new ball.
Ball 0.2: Shapoor Zadran to Rohit Sharma
Zadran pitched it up, searching for swing. Rohit leaned into a textbook cover drive.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Glorious! Rohit Sharma does not hit the ball, he merely caresses it! What a way to get off the mark in the World Cup!"(FOUR)
Ball 1.4: Dawlat Zadran to Virat Kohli
Dawlat dropped it short. Kohli rolled his wrists and pulled it fiercely through mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Cracked away! Virat Kohli is so strong off the back foot! It races to the fence in a flash!"(FOUR)
Ball 2.1: Shapoor Zadran to Rohit Sharma
Shapoor tried a slower ball, but it was a half-volley. Rohit lofted it effortlessly over mid-off.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Up and over! Beautiful extension of the arms from Rohit Sharma! He is looking in a completely different zone today!"(FOUR)
Ball 3.3: Dawlat Zadran to Kohli
Kohli stepped down the track and whipped the ball over deep square leg.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Flicked away into the night sky! Kohli uses his wrists like a magician! That has gone miles into the crowd!"(SIX)
Ball 5.5: Mohammad Nabi to Rohit Sharma
Spin was introduced. Nabi tossed it up, and Rohit slog-swept it brutally.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Smoked! Rohit Sharma welcomes the spinner with a massive maximum! That went ten rows back!"(SIX)
Ball 6.2: Samiullah Shinwari to Kohli
Kohli tried to cut a ball that was too close to his body. He dragged it onto his stumps.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Chopped on! Shinwari gets the big breakthrough! Kohli goes back to cut but there wasn't enough room! India lose their first!"WICKET (Virat Kohli 28). India: 45/1.
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With the score at 45/1, Siddanth Deva walked out at No. 3 (1-down). He adjusted his helmet, his [Predator's Focus] immediately locking onto the field placements.
Ball 7.4: Samiullah Shinwari to Deva
Shinwari bowled a leg-break. Deva made room and punched it through extra cover.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Pierced the gap! Siddanth Deva gets going with a surgical punch through the off-side! Pure timing!"(FOUR)
Ball 8.3: Karim Sadiq to Rohit Sharma
Rohit went inside out over extra cover.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"What a shot! Rohit Sharma is playing a gem of an innings here! Pure elegance!"(FOUR)
Ball 9.1: Mohammad Nabi to Deva
Deva stepped out and launched the off-spinner straight down the ground.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"DOWNTOWN! Deva sends it into the sightscreen! He heard the sound of the bat and didn't even bother looking up!"(SIX)
Ball 10.5: Dawlat Zadran to Rohit Sharma
Dawlat bowled a wide yorker. Rohit reached out and sliced it over backward point.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Cheeky and effective! Rohit slices it away for four more! He brings up the 100 for India!"(FOUR)
Ball 11.2: Shapoor Zadran to Rohit Sharma
Rohit tried to pull a heavy bouncer but got a top edge. It flew down to fine leg where Dawlat took a good catch.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"In the air... and taken! Shapoor Zadran gets the dangerous Rohit! He falls for a well-made 42, but he has set the platform!"WICKET (Rohit Sharma 42). India: 105/2.
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Yuvraj Singh walked out to join Deva. The crowd roared for the Prince of Punjab.
Ball 13.1: Samiullah Shinwari to Yuvraj
Shinwari tossed it up. Yuvraj knelt and swept it powerfully.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Swept away! Vintage Yuvraj Singh! He gets down low and hits it beautifully to the square leg boundary!"(FOUR)
Deva, having assessed the pitch, shifted into the [AB de Villiers Template].
Ball 14.4: Mohammad Nabi to Deva
Deva reverse-swept the spinner past short third man.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Brilliant innovation! Deva brings out the reverse sweep and it races away to the boundary! You cannot set a field for this man!"(FOUR)
Ball 15.2: Dawlat Zadran to Yuvraj
Dawlat bowled a length ball. Yuvraj cleared his front leg.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"High, handsome, and out of here! Yuvraj Singh with that trademark high backlift! That is a colossal six!"(SIX)
Ball 16.3: Shapoor Zadran to Deva
Shapoor missed his yorker. Deva flicked it nonchalantly over deep square leg.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Flicked away for a maximum! Deva brings up his half-century in absolute style! He is putting on a clinic in Colombo!"(SIX)
Ball 17.1: Karim Sadiq to Yuvraj
Yuvraj cut a short ball fiercely past point.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Cracked! Nobody moved! Yuvraj Singh finds the gap with raw power!"(FOUR)
Ball 18.4: Dawlat Zadran to Deva
Dawlat bowled a slower ball. Deva waited and pulled it flat over mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Read like a book! Deva spots the slower ball and deposits it into the stands! The Afghan bowlers have no answers!"(SIX)
Ball 19.1: Shapoor Zadran to Deva
Full and wide. Deva stepped across and scooped it over fine leg.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Oh, what cheek! Siddanth Deva brings out the scoop! He is playing with the bowler's mind now!"(FOUR)
Ball 19.3: Shapoor Zadran to Deva
Deva drove the ball cleanly down to long-on for a quick single, bringing Yuvraj on strike.
(1 Run)
Ball 19.4: Shapoor Zadran to Yuvraj
Yuvraj drove a full toss straight down the ground.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Smashed down the ground! Yuvraj finishes the over strong! Four runs!"(FOUR)
Ball 19.5: Shapoor Zadran to Yuvraj
Yuvraj squeezed a yorker out to point and set off for a sharp single.
(1 Run)
Ball 19.6: Shapoor Zadran to Deva
The final ball was a low full toss. Deva whipped it over deep mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"WHIPPED AWAY FOR SIX! Siddanth Deva finishes the innings with a monumental strike! He walks off unbeaten on a phenomenal 75! India post a massive 185!"(SIX)
India Innings Summary: 185/2 (20 Overs).
Rohit Sharma: 42 (30)
Virat Kohli: 28 (20)
Siddanth Deva: 75* (45)
Yuvraj Singh: 32* (25)
Extras: 8.
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Chasing 186 was always going to be a mountain for Afghanistan. Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan took the new ball.
Ball 0.1: Zaheer Khan to Mohammad Shahzad
Zaheer bowled a gentle outswinger. Shahzad threw his bat at it.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Slashed away! Shahzad goes hard and gets it over the slip cordon for a boundary! Aggressive intent!"(FOUR)
Ball 0.4: Zaheer Khan to Mohammad Shahzad
Zaheer adjusted his length, bowling a sharp inswinger. Shahzad missed the wild heave.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"BOWLED HIM! Zaheer Khan has the last laugh! The middle stump is knocked back! Shahzad's cameo ends early!"WICKET (Mohammad Shahzad 4). Afg: 6/1.
Ball 3.2: Irfan Pathan to Nawroz Mangal
Irfan angled the ball across the right-hander. Mangal edged it to Dhoni.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Edged and taken! Irfan Pathan strikes! The Afghan captain departs! India are all over them like a rash!"WICKET (Nawroz Mangal 8). Afg: 15/2.
Ball 5.5: Lakshmipathy Balaji to Asghar Stanikzai
Balaji bowled a cutter. Stanikzai checked his shot and popped it to Raina at cover.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Soft dismissal! Balaji's lack of pace does the trick! Stanikzai chips it straight to Raina! Afghanistan are crumbling!"WICKET (Asghar Stanikzai 5). Afg: 22/3.
Dhoni introduced spin. R. Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha tightened the noose.
Ball 8.4: Pragyan Ojha to Shafiqullah
Shafiqullah danced down the track and missed entirely. Dhoni whipped the bails off.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Stumped by a mile! Ojha gets it to turn away, and MS Dhoni is lightning fast behind the stumps!"WICKET (Shafiqullah 12). Afg: 40/4.
Ball 10.2: R. Ashwin to Mohammad Nabi
Nabi read the carrom ball and slog-swept it over mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Massive hit! Mohammad Nabi shows his class! That's a huge six to break the shackles!"(SIX)
Ball 10.5: R. Ashwin to Mohammad Nabi
Ashwin tossed it up wider. Nabi reached for it and dragged it to long-on where Kohli took a safe catch.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Caught in the deep! Ashwin strikes back! Nabi goes for the big one again but finds Virat Kohli! Half the side is back in the hut!"WICKET (Mohammad Nabi 15). Afg: 52/5.
Deva came on in the 14th over to finish the tail. He bowled with searing, unapologetic pace.
Ball 13.1: Siddanth Deva to Samiullah Shinwari
152 kmph. Inswinging yorker.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"CASTLED! Absolute thunderbolt from Siddanth Deva! You cannot play that! The off-stump is flattened!"WICKET (Samiullah Shinwari 4). Afg: 65/6.
Ball 14.3: Zaheer Khan to Karim Sadiq
Sadiq tried to hook a bouncer but top-edged it to Dhoni.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"In the air... and safely taken by the captain! Zaheer gets his second! Afghanistan are falling apart!"WICKET (Karim Sadiq 11). Afg: 72/7.
Ball 16.2: Pragyan Ojha to Gulbadin Naib
Naib hit a consolation boundary through the covers.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Well struck! Naib hits it cleanly through the off-side for a boundary."(FOUR)
Ball 16.5: Pragyan Ojha to Gulbadin Naib
Naib tried to repeat the shot but missed the arm ball. Plumb LBW.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Given! Plumb in front! Ojha slides one in and Naib is trapped right in front of the stumps!"WICKET (Gulbadin Naib 9). Afg: 80/8.
Ball 18.1: Siddanth Deva to Dawlat Zadran
Deva bowled a 148 kmph bouncer. Dawlat fended it to backward point where Yuvraj took a leaping catch.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"What a catch! Yuvraj Singh is flying! Deva gets the short ball to climb, and Yuvi plucks it out of thin air!"WICKET (Dawlat Zadran 2). Afg: 88/9.
Ball 19.3: R. Ashwin to Shapoor Zadran
Shapoor tried to slog but missed. Clean bowled.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"BOWLED HIM! That is the end of the match! Ashwin hits the timber and Afghanistan are all out! India win by a massive margin of 90 runs! A complete and utter demolition!"WICKET (Shapoor Zadran 1). Afg: 95 All Out.
Result: India won by 90 runs.
Man of the Match: Siddanth Deva (75* and 2/12).
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Date: September 23rd, 2012.
Location: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Event: ICC World T20 Group A - India vs England.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Siddanth Deva, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Irfan Pathan, R. Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Pragyan Ojha.
The Toss: MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl first.
"There's moisture in the pitch, and our seamers will get early movement," Dhoni explained. "We back ourselves to chase anything."
Craig Kieswetter and Alex Hales walked out for England. Irfan Pathan took the new ball, generating prodigious swing.
Ball 0.4: Irfan Pathan to Alex Hales
Hales stepped down and drove Irfan straight down the ground.
[Commentary - David Lloyd]:"Wallop! Alex Hales skips down and hits it straight back past the bowler! Good start for England!"(FOUR)
Ball 2.3: Zaheer Khan to Alex Hales
Zaheer bowled a brilliant cross-seam delivery that bounced awkwardly. Hales tried to cut but edged it to Dhoni.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Edged and taken! Zaheer Khan finds the outside edge! Hales has to walk back! India strike early!"WICKET (Alex Hales 12). Eng: 18/1.
Luke Wright walked in at No. 3.
Ball 4.1: Lakshmipathy Balaji to Luke Wright
Wright made room and slashed the ball over point.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Slashed away! Wright creates room and gets it over the infield for four!"(FOUR)
Ball 4.5: Lakshmipathy Balaji to Luke Wright
Wright went big, launching Balaji over long-on.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Massive! Luke Wright connects beautifully and sends it into the stands! England are fighting back!"(SIX)
Ball 6.2: Irfan Pathan to Luke Wright
Irfan bowled a deceptive slower ball. Wright swung early, mistimed it, and Rohit Sharma took an easy catch at mid-off.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"In the air... and safely taken by Rohit! Irfan's slower ball does the trick! The dangerous Luke Wright is gone!"WICKET (Luke Wright 22). Eng: 45/2.
Eoin Morgan came to the crease. The spinners were introduced to stifle the scoring rate.
Ball 8.4: Pragyan Ojha to Craig Kieswetter
Kieswetter tried to reverse sweep but missed completely. Plumb LBW.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Given! Plumb in front! Kieswetter tries to be too cute and pays the price! Ojha gets his man!"WICKET (Craig Kieswetter 15). Eng: 52/3.
Ball 9.3: R. Ashwin to Eoin Morgan
Morgan reverse-swept Ashwin brilliantly.
[Commentary - David Lloyd]:"Brilliant! Eoin Morgan brings out the reverse sweep and executes it to perfection! Four runs!"(FOUR)
Ball 11.5: R. Ashwin to Eoin Morgan
Ashwin pushed it wider. Morgan reached for it, slicing it to point where Yuvraj took a sharp catch.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Caught at point! Ashwin traps the English captain! Morgan goes for the slice but finds Yuvraj! England are in deep trouble!"WICKET (Eoin Morgan 18). Eng: 65/4.
Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler tried to resurrect the innings.
Ball 13.2: Zaheer Khan to Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow flicked Zaheer off his pads.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Beautiful wrist work! Bairstow whips it off his pads for a boundary!"(FOUR)
Enter The Devil: Deva was brought into the attack in the 15th over. The crowd roared.
Ball 14.1: Siddanth Deva to Jonny Bairstow
Deva bowled a 150 kmph yorker. Bairstow couldn't get his bat down in time.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"BOWLED HIM! Absolute toe-crusher! Siddanth Deva strikes in his very first over! The woodwork is shattered!"WICKET (Jonny Bairstow 10). Eng: 78/5.
Ball 15.4: Pragyan Ojha to Jos Buttler
Buttler tried to hit Ojha inside-out but hit it straight to Kohli at long-off.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Caught in the deep! Buttler goes for the inside-out loft but picks out Virat Kohli! Ojha strikes again!"WICKET (Jos Buttler 8). Eng: 85/6.
Stuart Broad walked in. The crowd booed heavily, remembering his tweets.
Ball 17.2: Lakshmipathy Balaji to Stuart Broad
Broad connected cleanly and sent Balaji over mid-wicket.
[Commentary - David Lloyd]:"Bosh! Stuart Broad connects with one and it sails over the ropes for a much-needed maximum!"(SIX)
Ball 18.3: Siddanth Deva to Stuart Broad
Deva ran in hard. He didn't bowl a bouncer. He bowled a 153 kmph ball that jagged back off the seam. It snapped Broad's middle stump in half.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"TIMBER! THE STUMP IS BROKEN! Siddanth Deva rips Broad's middle stump out of the ground! That is pure, unadulterated pace! Revenge is a dish best served at 153 kilometers per hour!"WICKET (Stuart Broad 12). Eng: 102/7.
Ball 18.5: Siddanth Deva to Graeme Swann
Deva bowled a vicious bouncer. Swann gloved it to Dhoni.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Caught behind! Deva is on fire! Swann has no idea about that short ball! England are collapsing rapidly!"WICKET (Graeme Swann 2). Eng: 105/8.
Ball 19.1: R. Ashwin to Steven Finn
Finn tried to slog sweep but missed the carrom ball.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Bowled him! Ashwin deceives Finn with the carrom ball! The end is nigh for England!"WICKET (Steven Finn 4). Eng: 110/9.
Ball 19.3: R. Ashwin to Jade Dernbach
Dernbach edged the ball to slip where Deva took a sharp catch.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Edged and taken! Ashwin finishes the innings! England are bowled out for a paltry 116! A magnificent bowling performance by India!"WICKET (Jade Dernbach 2). Eng: 116 All Out.
Target: 117.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli walked out. They were in a mood to finish things early to boost the net run rate. Steven Finn took the new ball.
Ball 0.2: Steven Finn to Rohit Sharma
Rohit pulled a short ball masterfully.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Cracked away! Rohit starts the chase with a ferocious pull shot! Four runs!"(FOUR)
Ball 2.3: Stuart Broad to Virat Kohli
Kohli stepped out and drove Broad through the covers.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Glorious cover drive! Virat Kohli stands tall and punches it right out of the middle of the bat!"(FOUR)
Ball 3.4: Steven Finn to Rohit Sharma
Rohit danced down the track and lofted Finn over long-on.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Into the stands! Rohit Sharma shows no respect to the pace! A beautiful, clean strike for six!"(SIX)
Ball 4.5: Jade Dernbach to Kohli
Kohli flicked a slower ball past short fine leg.
[Commentary - David Lloyd]:"Cheeky! Kohli reads the slower ball and just ticks it around the corner for a boundary!"(FOUR)
Ball 6.1: Graeme Swann to Rohit Sharma
Rohit swept the spinner hard through square leg.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Swept away brilliantly! Rohit is not letting the spinners settle! The boundaries are flowing!"(FOUR)
Ball 7.2: Tim Bresnan to Kohli
Kohli went inside-out over extra cover.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"What a shot! Inside-out from Virat! He has pierced the gap to absolute perfection!"(FOUR)
Ball 8.3: Steven Finn to Rohit Sharma
Rohit tried to hook a bouncer but got a top edge to fine leg.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Caught in the deep! Finn gets the breakthrough! Rohit Sharma falls after a fiery start! He departs for 35, but the damage is done!"WICKET (Rohit Sharma 35). India: 68/1.
Siddanth Deva walked out at 1-down. He tapped his bat, looking at Stuart Broad fielding at mid-off.
Ball 9.2: Jade Dernbach to Deva
Dernbach bowled a back-of-the-hand slower ball. Deva waited an eternity and punched it through the covers.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Waited for it and crunched it! Siddanth Deva gets off the mark with a sublime boundary! He has so much time to play his shots!"(FOUR)
Ball 10.4: Graeme Swann to Kohli
Kohli swept Swann for a massive maximum.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Over the ropes! Kohli gets down on one knee and sends it into the stands! India are racing towards the target!"(SIX)
Ball 11.2: Stuart Broad to Deva
Broad ran in hard and bowled short. Deva stepped inside the line and hooked it into the second tier.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"HOOKED AWAY FOR SIX! Siddanth Deva says hello to Stuart Broad! That is a massive hit! The crowd is absolutely loving this battle!"(SIX)
Ball 11.4: Stuart Broad to Deva
Broad went full and wide. Deva slashed it backward of point.
[Commentary - Nasser Hussain]:"Slashed away! Broad offers width and Deva punishes him ruthlessly! Four runs! Deva is in a hurry!"(FOUR)
Ball 12.3: Steven Finn to Kohli
Kohli flicked Finn exquisitely through mid-wicket.
[Commentary - David Lloyd]:"Flicked with utter disdain! Virat Kohli is putting on a masterclass here! It races to the fence!"(FOUR)
Ball 13.1: Jade Dernbach to Deva
Dernbach bowled a wide yorker. Deva squeezed it past short third man.
[Commentary - Ian Bishop]:"Squeezed away! Deva opens the face of the bat at the last millisecond! Brilliant execution for four!"(FOUR)
Ball 13.3: Jade Dernbach to Deva
Deva stepped out and launched the ball over long-off.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"DOWNTOWN! What a spectacular hit! Deva clears the boundary with absolute ease! India need just two runs to win!"(SIX)
Ball 13.4: Jade Dernbach to Deva
Dernbach bowled a short ball. Deva pulled it fiercely through mid-wicket to seal the match.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"PULLED AWAY FOR FOUR! AND THAT IS IT! Siddanth Deva finishes the match with a boundary! India completely demolish England by 9 wickets! A clinical, ruthless performance by the Men in Blue to top the group!"(FOUR)
Final Score: India 118/1 (13.4 Overs).
India had sent a terrifying message to the rest of the world. They had won their two group stage matches with embarrassing ease. Deva was in top form and the World Cup trophy seemed destined for Delhi.