India on Sunday suffered a humiliating 8-wicket defeat in the ongoing T20 World Cup, played in the UAE. Virat Kohli-led side had lost to Pakistan in their first match by 10 wickets.
Batting first, India failed to put up a fighting total in the face of an impressive attack from New Zealand bowlers. They lost their top four batsmen namely Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli within 10.1 overs when the team’s total was only 48.
Team India failed to accelerate their run rate and could only score 110-7 in 20 overs. Trend Boult picked up three wickets, while Ish Sodhi dismissed two batsmen. Tim Southee and Adam Milne shared one wicket each. With his 3-20 in the first innings, Trent Boult became the fifth Kiwi bowler to take 50 T20I wickets. Four other Kiwi bowlers to have picked up 50 wickets or more are Trent Boult (101), Ish Sodhi (77), Mitchell Santner (61) and Nathan Mccallum (58).
New Zealand’s response was electric as Kiwi batsmen began to hit Indian bowlers freely all around the stadium. They achieved the target by losing just two wickets with 33 balls to spare.
Daryl Mitchell made 49 while Kane Williamson remained unbeaten at 33.
This was the first victory for New Zealand in two matches in this World Cup, while India have now lost both their matches. Virat Kohli’s side had suffered a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals Pakistan.
The defeat against Pakistan had prompted Hindutva hatemongers to target the team’s only Muslim player, Muhammad Shami, by accusing him of accepting money from India’s hostile neighbour. Breaking his silence, Indian skipper Virat Kohli had called Hindutva fanatics the ‘most pathetic’ humans as he defended his teammate.
“There is a good reason why we are playing on the field and not some bunch of spineless people on social media that have no courage to actually speak to any individual in person. This is the lowest level of human form, attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing human being can do,” Kohli had said.
Reacting to Kohli’s public outbursts, Hindutva hatemongers had publicly prayed for India’s defeat.
