It was unacceptable that 45 minutes of bad cricket resulted in India's shock exit from the World Cup, lamented captain Virat Kohli after his team suffered a heart-breaking semifinal defeat against New Zealand. In a stunning top-order collapse, India were reduced to 24 for four while chasing a modest 240.
Ravindra Jadeja showed fighting spirit with his all-round performance. He picked 1/34 with the ball and showed his brilliant fielding by taking a sensational catch and affecting a run out but it was his contribution with the bat, scoring 77 off 59 deliveries with four boundaries and four sixes which was the most telling.
When everyone lost hopes on the match, Jadeja with his career best knock brought back hopes. “Was he stayed there not out till end of the match, India would have won the match,” is the common opinion of Indian cricket fans.
Sanjay Manjrekar, after the match, admitted that, Jadeja had proven him wrong. “By bits 'n' pieces of sheer brilliance, he's ripped me apart on all fronts,” said Manjrekar when was asked to tell his views on Jadeja’s all-round performance.
Manjrekar’s comments had not gone down well with Jadeja, who had taken to Twitter to show his displeasure after being called a bits and pieces player. Jadeja went onto accuse Manjrekar of verbal diarrhea.
Jadeja’s sensational effort with the bat was in vain in the end as New Zealand registered a 18-run victory and sealed a spot in the final of the World Cup. But, he won hearts with his fighting spirit!