Did Team India miss Yuvraj Singh in 2015 Cricket World Cup

Defending champions Team India’s golden run at the 2015 Cricket World Cup was finally put to end by the mighty Australian side at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The two sides playing each other in the semi-finals stage, Michael Clarke’s Australia beat MS Dhoni led Indian side by 95 runs to progress to their seventh Cricket World Cup final. This lop-sided defeat of the ‘in-form’ Men in Blue has come as a shocker to their loyal fans, who feel they lacked the services of last World Cup hero – Yuvraj Singh. Yes, Yuvraj was indeed the man who played the major role in knocking Australia in the 2011 World Cup after winning three consecutive editions (1999, 2003 and 2007). Could he have made the difference on March 26 match? And if the answer to it is affirmative, what did Indian cricket team miss Down Under? Also Read: MS Dhoni’s fight in vain as India lose by 95 runs; Australia set to play New Zealand in final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

1. Knight in shining armour

He was the main architect of India’s recent success at ICC Word Cups, be it ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2007 or the previous edition ICC Cricket World Cup 2011,Yuvraj Singh emerged as the most valuable player. A player who can take the match away from opponent team’s grasps in matter of few overs is always missed. One bad match from the current crop should not be used as an excuse to undermine the team but one cannot deny how badly Yuvraj was missed when Indian batsmen fell like nine-pins. Also Read: India vs Australia ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Steve Smith’s ton, MS Dhoni’s fight among Top 5 Highlights of IND vs AUS.

2. Yuvraj Singh’s Golden Arm

After inviting the Indian bowling line-up to bowl first on Sydney track, Michael Clarke and co. blasted their way to make a monstrous total of 328. Despite Indian bowlers managed to put some brakes on their run-scoring,the solid 182-run partnership hurt the side early on. During such situations, Yuvraj has proven to be Captain Dhoni’s Man Friday. He had the knack of picking wickets and breaking partnerships. Apart from the dangerous batsman Yuvraj is, he was terribly missed as a resourceful bowler.

3. Role of Finisher

MS Dhoni is regarded as the greatest finisher of the modern day cricket but on March 26, he ran out of partners on the other end. Yuvraj Singh has played several match winning knocks that has taken the team across the finish line. In World Cup 2011, India would not have landed the trophy had he not played some of the crucial knocks.

- From India.com