'Kuch bhi Logic hai' - Indian fan questions Aakash Chopra’s Women’s T20 World Cup final analysis

The final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 between India and Australia was supposed to be a mouth-watering encounter between two dominant sides in the tournament. Indian eves were unbeaten in league stages, while got a walkover win over England in semi-finals due to rains. Defending champions Australia, meanwhile lost just one match, against India in the tournament opener.

However, the match proved to be a one-sided drubbing of first-time finalists India. While the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and opener Shafali Verma were eager to gift the entire nation an elusive ICC title, things went horribly wrong for them, when put under pressure from now five-time T20 champs. The eves succumbed to the big occasion pressure and lost the final by 85 runs.

Batting first, Australia piled up 184/4 in 20 overs after Alyssa Healy made 75 in 39 balls and Beth Mooney batted through the innings for 78*. Indian fielders gave a life each to both openers and were punished with Healy reaching her fifty in just 30 balls, creating the record for the fastest fifty in an ICC event final. India’s ploy of playing four spinners at MCG backfired after the lone pacer Shikhar Pandey went for 52 runs in 4 overs and the tweakers failed to pick up a wicket.

Fan questions Aakash Chopra’s view regarding India-Australia final

Indian batting failed to get going after the explosive Shafali Verma was dismissed in the first over as experienced duo of Harmanpreet and Mandhana, were in woeful form. The whole team was bowled out for 99, in a dismal performance that was criticized by experts and fans similarly. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra’s analysis came for some sharp criticism from Twitterverse for being devoid of any logic.

Chopra mentioned that both Australia and India lost just one game in the whole tournament and that too against each other. As mentioned above, India beat Australia in the first match of the T20 World Cup and Australia returned the favour in the all-important final. “India lost only one game in the tournament. So did Australia. Both teams lost to each other. India beat Aus in the tournament opener. Australia beat India in the finals. Such is life….,” Chopra tweeted.

India lost only one game in the tournament. So did Australia. Both teams lost to each other. India beat Aus in the tournament opener. Australia beat India in the finals. Such is life…. #WT20WC #AusvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 8, 2020

However, an Indian team fan on Twitter questioned his logic. He mentioned that India lost the match that mattered the most, the final; while Australia lost a league match, hence there can be no comparison between the losses.

Arey I missed this tweet of yours @cricketaakash … yeh kya logic hai dost? India lost when it mattered most whereas Aus lost a much less relevant game! No comparison. Let’s accept that we were completely outplayed by a much better side, only then can we improve!! #WT20WC https://t.co/u3IlEIIFdL

— Sambit Kumar Mallik (@sambitmallik) March 10, 2020

Chopra, who usually responds to such criticism, took to Twitter and replied to the fan, saying that though India beat Australia in the league stage, it was an important win that enabled them to top the group. This no.1 finish in league stage helped Indian eves topple England in the rain-washed out semi-final and make it into the finals.

It wasn’t an irrelevant game that India won. Allowed them to top the group. Therefore, they remained unaffected by the rain….yes, on the big day, Australia’s experience came handy. They knew how to lift their game and we didn’t. https://t.co/jDgIbwNWfL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 10, 2020