Ishant Sharma's 18th over: A gamble that turned the match

Sunday’s game of India vs. England can be termed as one of the finest finals the world has ever seen. Although the rain had drained the contest of the match by shrinking it to a T20 international that was essentially played according to ODI rules, the match turned out to be another piece of evidence stating that English batsmen tend to bend under pressure.

In this victory of Team India pacer Ishant Sharma played a crucial role. Many may think of it as a game plan but in my view it was merely a gamble that Dhoni won.

With the scoreboard flashing 66-5, Jadeja and Virat boosted the total by adding a quick fire 47 for the sixth wicket. Kohli smashed 43 off 34 deliveries that included four boundaries and a six, before he gave his catch in the deep off James Anderson. Jadeja remained unbeaten on a 25 ball 33 to leave England a victory of 130 in 20 overs.

In the second innings, India started its pursue for the title quite beautifully by dismissing the English captain Cook in the second over. The spinners then took the charge and got 3 more wickets for the team. This was the time when the English batsmen were beset with conflicting anticipations. But Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan took the charge and got back at the Indians with some lusty blows and were leading England towards the victory with a 64 run partnership off just 53 balls and were appearing invincible.

Now came the 18th over of the match when England still required 28 off 3 overs with 6 wickets in hand. The match was no more a thriller. The odds were now stacked in favour of England and certainly, Indian shoulders were down. But now was the time for the biggest gamble of the tournament, courtesy Captain Cool. Just when it seemed that England were romping home with the trophy, came the 6ft 5inch Ishant, who was India’s most expensive bowler till then, but with a new vigour of proving his captain correct.

Being a cricket lover the first thing that came to my mind was- “Why did Dhoni hand over the ball to Ishant when Bhubaneswar kumar and Umesh Yadav have still got overs to bowl?”. Was the risk worth it? Was Dhoni correct? Was Ishant “the right man”? Apparently not! Since he started disastrously, getting hit for a six of the second ball and then continuing his horrendous run by bowling two consecutive wide balls.

For a brief moment it seemed that the Gods were against Dhoni, it appeared they wanted to overlook all the hard work his team had done till then. But who said that it was the end? Neither the over nor the game was complete. Coming round the wicket, Ishant bowled a magnificently deceptive slow ball which got the better of Morgan. Following him into the pavilion was the English hero Ravi Bopara who stood there defiantly after striking a bouncer straight to R Ashwin.

Two wickets off two balls. What followed it was palpitation, nail biting, a few heart attacks and a magnificent bowl to Bresnan right outside the off stump that climbed its way up, right into the hands of Dhoni. Phew, for a second even Bresnan must have thought that it was a hat trick.

The feeling I got when I saw the ball in the hands of Ishant in th 18th over was similar to the feeling I got watching Joginder Sharma bowl the last over of the Final of the first T20 World Cup. Just after the 18th over, the only thing that came to my mind was- “How can Dhoni play such a gamble and still win it”. Dhoni went by his instincts and the results were clear, Team India got back into the game. No wonder he is the King of Luck.

Ishant had already done the job for India and now was time for the super fluent Jadeja who supported the decision Captain cool by dismissing Jos Buttler in the 19th over got the line of the ball totally wrong and ended up with a dejected heart. Bresnan also lost his wicket in the same over due to some brilliant fielding by Rohit Sharma.

Ashwin came in the last over but was hit for a boundary off the second ball. This showed the intentions of the English batsman. they were not going to give away the match so easily. Ashwin bowled the next three balls brilliantly. Six of the last three and England would be the Champions. This was a nail biting situation for the fans of both the cricket loving nations. Ashwin made sure that the batsman got the ball all wrong, making India win the last ball thriller and helping it lift the Champions Trophy.

The victory was dedicated to the entire team effort. But Ishant played a crucial role in the 18th over by dismissing two established batsman. Though Ishant proved to be quite costly but he gifted India with the victory. Had Ishant not bowled that crucial 18th over, the result would have been something different. Dhoni’s gamble with Ishant had worked out, making Dhoni the most successful captain in Indian history. “All is well that ends well”….is the only thing that Indian fans can think. Kudos to the man with Midas Touch.