India lost five knock-out games since 2014; Are they the new chokers of world cricket?

Ever since India won the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy in a gap of two years in 2011 and 2013, they haven’t have bagged any major trophy. In the last five years, India have made the finals and semi-finals of a number of the multi-lateral tournaments but could not find the killer punch. As a result, the cricketing world has come close to discovering a new ‘choker’ and it is none but the two-time world champions. Many have even started replacing South Africa, the traditional chokers, with India.

The question whether India deserve to be known as the new chokers of world cricket became pertinent after they lost the semi-final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup to New Zealand at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Chasing 240 to win, India were 5 for 3 and despite a valiant fightback by the lower order, could only manage 221.

In T20 World Cups and 50-over tournaments, India have missed out in recent years

The latest defeat extended the list of India’s loss in knock-out phases. They have now lost as many as five knock-out games starting from the final of the World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014. In that game played in Dhaka, an unnaturally slow Yuvraj Singh saw India failing to accelerate at a crunch time against Sri Lanka who eventually went on to win the game. India were unbeaten till the final and were led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Next year, they played tremendous cricket in the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and remained unbeaten till the semi-final when they played Australia in Sydney and lost by 95 runs. Dhoni was the captain on that occasion as well. In 2016, India made the semi-final losing just one game in the World T20 held at home but in the last-four clash, they lost to eventual champions West Indies by 7 wickets despite scoring big. Dhoni was also at the helm in this game.

The next shocker came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Led by Virat Kohli, India did well to reach the final, dropping just one game in the way, but they were thoroughly beaten by Pakistan in the final by 180 runs. And the fifth one happened earlier this week under Kohli’s captaincy once again.

Here are what the fans are saying on India, the ‘new chokers’:

The Men in Blue will now travel to West Indies for a series starting August 4. According to reports, a few players could be rested and a few names could pop up.