Just one defeat in over a month of the 2019 ICC World Cup but Virat Kohli’s Indian team fell short when it mattered the most.
Playing New Zealand in the semi-final, India were handed an 18-run defeat and have now been knocked out of the World Cup.
While skipper Virat Kohli admitted this defeat was difficult to accept, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to look on the bright side and lauded the team’s fighting spirit.
A disappointing result, but good to see Team India’s fighting spirit till the very end. India batted, bowled, fielded well throughout the tournament, of which we are very proud. Wins and losses are a part of life. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours.Narendra Modi
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also tweeted saying that the team deserves the country’s ‘love and respect’.
India's famed top-order imploded on the day as a gritty New Zealand survived a swift counter attack from Ravindra Jadeja to win the all-important semi-final by 18 runs.
The Indian top-order had one failure due and much to their horror, the semi-final proved to be their dooms day.
Jadeja (77 off 59 balls) used every ounce of his 'bits and pieces' skill but the 'men in blue' could only get as far as 221 in 49.3 overs in pursuit of 240.
New Zealand have now made it to their second successive final, with credit going to their pacers' -- Matt Henry (3/37) and Trent Boult's (2/42) -- deadly opening spell and Lockie Ferguson's steely nerve in the penultimate over.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)