The day Yuvraj wanted to become the hero
The silence was unnerving, one could almost hear a band of crickets singing merrily, unmindful of the T20 action happening at MA Chidambaram stadium. It was like someone plugged a cork into a noisy trumpet or threw a blanket over 25 thousand fans.
The scene: India requires 7 runs off the last four balls and Dhoni is patiently waiting at the crease.
The plot: Franklin runs in to bowl and releases a fuller length delivery on to Dhoni’s pads; Dhoni pushes it to long-on.
The twist: Dhoni reaches the crease, before Yuvraj completes the run, and looks for a second. Yuvraj raises his arm, signalling him to stay put.
Coming back from a nine month lay-off from cricket, Yuvraj Singh was cast as hero of this match, even before the match coin was tossed. However, yesterday will be remembered as the day he wanted to be the Hero.
When Dhoni wanted a second run, Yuvraj held back. The plot thickens and the twist kicks into the narrative. Nine months ago, a fully fit Yuvraj would have worked every bone in his 6ft 2 in athletic frame to put his wicket on the line for that second run. Warmed up in Bangalore and washed-out in Vizag, the humidity in the Chepauk air clouded Yuvraj’s judgement.
This error doesn’t take away anything from Yuvraj on how he’s come back from a life-threatening disease and how he performed overall in the match yesterday. He scored 34 off 26 balls and hit a couple of sixes as well.
Caught by Yuvraj at cover-point in the first innings, Franklin had revenge on his mind. A slow delivery dislodged the bails and disturbed the middle stump for the first time in second innings. Dhoni clenched his teeth and forced a smile as Yuvraj made his way to the pavilion.
Coming on to bat next was Rohit Sharma and the muted welcome did not help his morale.
“We planned to keep it till the end. We had two set batsmen. We reached a good position in the end but sometimes it doesn’t work out. Rohit Sharma is among the big hitters that we have got down the order. With four runs from one ball you need the team’s big hitter to take it on. Unfortunately he was not able to strike,” Dhoni said after the match.
Franklin bowled a quicker one this time and Sharma ran for two between the wickets. Dhoni could have settled for a single and summoned his reserve strength to hit a six, with five runs needed off the last ball. However, he gambled on Rohit Sharma and the fans did not get the dramatic ending they hoped for.
Dhoni promoted himself up the order after Kohli was caught in the 14th over. He slowed down the scoring rate, but India was always in the running to win the second T20 against New Zealand. On the second ball of the last over, questions over poor form and low confidence were answered when Dhoni struck Franklin’s delivery for a boundary like a warrior swinging his mace.
Dhoni didn’t want to be the Hero, though he had the chance; he is the face behind the camera that gets the job done.