How Did India Fare in the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean

The 2010 ICC T20 World Cup held in the West Indies was a tournament of high hopes and sharp disappointments for the Indian cricket team. As India gears up for another T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in 2024, it’s worth reflecting on the team’s journey in the 2010 edition, where a promising start ended in an abrupt and disheartening exit.

India was placed in Group C alongside South Africa and Afghanistan in the 2010 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue showcased their prowess early on, winning both their matches and progressing to the Super 8 stage with confidence.

The first match saw India facing South Africa at Gros Islet. Despite losing the toss and being put into bat, India managed a formidable total of 186-5. This was largely thanks to a scintillating century from Suresh Raina, who hammered 101 off just 60 balls, including nine fours and five sixes.

In response, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis put up a fight with 73 off 54 balls, but the Proteas fell short, finishing at 172-5. Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar were effective with the ball, ensuring India secured a 14-run victory.

India’s second group match was against Afghanistan, a team still finding its feet in international cricket. India opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and their bowlers did not disappoint. Nehra starred again with figures of 3-19, supported by Praveen Kumar’s 2-14, restricting Afghanistan to a modest 115-8.

The chase was straightforward, with Murali Vijay leading the way with 48 off 46 balls. India reached the target comfortably in 14.5 overs, winning by seven wickets and securing their place in the Super 8s.

Despite the promising start, India’s fortunes took a dramatic downturn in the Super 8 stage. They lost all three of their matches and were eliminated from the tournament, a stark contrast to their group stage performance.

In India’s first Super 8 match against Australia at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Australia posted 184-5 after choosing to bat first, driven by explosive knocks from David Warner (72 off 42) and Shane Watson (54 off 32). Despite Nehra and Yuvraj Singh picking up two wickets each, Australia dominated.

India’s reply was disappointing. Despite Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 79 off 46 balls, the rest of the batting lineup failed to deliver. No other batsman scored more than 20 as India was bowled out for 135 in 17.4 overs, losing by 49 runs. 

In their next match against the West Indies, also in Barbados, India won the toss and chose to bowl first. Nehra again led the bowling attack with 3-35, but Chris Gayle’s blistering 98 off 66 balls powered the hosts to 169-6.

India’s chase was marred by regular wickets and a lack of substantial partnerships. Suresh Raina top-scored with 32, and MS Dhoni’s 29 off 18 offered some resistance, but it wasn’t enough. India finished at 155-9, falling short by 14 runs. The West Indian bowlers, particularly Kemar Roach, ensured there was no respite for the Indian batsmen.

The final Super 8 match against Sri Lanka in St. Lucia was a must-win for India to stay in contention. Batting first, India posted a competitive 163-5, with Raina scoring 63 off 47 and Gautam Gambhir contributing 41 off 32. However, it wasn’t an imposing total.

Sri Lanka’s chase was well-paced, with contributions from Kumar Sangakkara (46 off 33), Angelo Mathews (46 off 37), and Tillakaratne Dilshan (33 off 26). The match went down to the wire, and with 10 needed off the last over, Chamara Kapugedera sealed the win with a six off the final ball. India lost by five wickets, ending their campaign on a disappointing note.

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