5 reasons India lost the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia

India were unbeaten in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 coming into the semi-final. Australia were vulnerable, but India once again failed to get past Australia. This despite playing against them for the last four months. The home side knocked India out out of tournament with a 95-run win. Nikhil Popat sheds some light on the five reasons that led to India’s defeat.

1. Virat Kohli’s dismissal:  When India lost Shikhar Dhawan to a loose loft over covers, he had still done his job. He had given India a quick start. The momentum was with India. The moment Virat Kohli walked in, he looked to play himself in. In the  ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, he did not fire after the game against Pakistan. He was due, he faced a tight over from Hazlewood before Johnson came on.  The bouncer came and Kohli went for it, but he failed to get any connection and top-edged it to Haddin behind the wickets. READ:Australia crush by India by 95 runs, qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

2. No partnerships in the chase:  Chasing a score like 329, you need to build partnerships to keep yourself in the game. After the 76-run opening stand, India managed to stitch just one more 50-run stand. Australia had a huge 182-run stand which ensured they did not need many more. But India chasing a mammoth total, needed to put their head down, stitch partnerships. After the opening stand, the next one came between MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane, by which time the game was already beyond India’s reach. Full Scorecard: India vs Australia, ICC World Cup 2015 Semi-Final 2 at Sydney

3. Steven Smith: How do India get past him? In the Test series recently he piled up 789 runs in four Tests at an average of 128.16 to be precise. He had three fifties in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 before this game. By the time they dislodged him, he had already notched up another hundred. He cut, pulled and used his feet well to prevent any Indian bowler from getting the better of him. India vs Australia Semi-Final: Australian innings highlights

4. Over-bowling the short ball: Indians had used the short ball well so far in the tournament. They used it instead of wasting it, unlike the events in the second semi-final. There were  a lot of needless, wayward short ones which were also attempted at the wrong time and the Australian batsmen made merry. There was not much bounce, but all the three Indian pacers kept testing the middle of the pitch. Yes, they did get wickets off it but they paid a heavy price for bowling that short as even at the death, they tried bowling short balls and Johnson too cashed in and scoring a differential knock. India vs Australia Semi-Final: Indian innings highlights

5. Ravindra Jadeja:  Ravindra Jadeja did not have a very good run in the World Cup, and his figures today also showed why India failed to breakthrough at regular intervals against Australia.  There was some help on the wicket for the spinners, but he failed to extract any. His figures of 10-0-56-0 did not help India maintain pressure on the Australians. With the bat, when he needed to stay there with Dhoni, he never seemed to be in control and was run-out for a 17-ball 16. This was his first ICC Cricket World Cup and one would hope he can learn and rectify the mistakes going ahead. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage

(Nikhil Popat is a cricket lover and a PotterHead, who loves to be himself. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)