Indian cricket supporters are notorious for being quick to criticise their players and the incredible meltdown in the fourth One Day International against Australia on Wednesday proved exactly why the fans may have a point.
Chasing a steep 349 for victory in Canberra, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan both got hundreds to take India to 277/1. Requiring a little over 70 runs at less than a run a ball, a record chase looked like it was going to be rather straightforward.
But incredibly, India they fell 25 runs short off the target, losing their last nine wickets for 46 runs. India went from 277/1 to 294/6, before eventually folding up for 323 in the final over of the innings. After scores of 126 and 106 from Dhawan and Kohli, the rest of the scorecard read: 0,5,24*, 2,9, 2, 2, 0. Captain MS Dhoni was out for a duck and the rest of a mostly inexperienced line-up looked lost as Australia went up 4-0 in the series.
The collapse resulted in a barrage of tweets on social media, as shocked Indian fans opted for some sardonic humour. Here's a selection:
HAHAHAHA #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZKkIVhUapK
— Adorable®哈姆扎ツ (@RanaSaab__) January 20, 2016
Wheels. Off. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/FemEX6IwwJ
— XXHorseRacingTips (@MelbRacingTips) January 20, 2016
This is a meltdown and a half #AUSvIND
— Jack Lalor (@jack_lalor) January 20, 2016
The Indian tail-enders have a brain cell between them! #AUSvIND
— Rahis (@Rahis_Carefree) January 20, 2016
Yadav is still swinging. This is not the 60s mate #ausvind
— Mayur (@mayurdeepz) January 20, 2016
@imVkohli must be feeling like when Teacher puts u in a group project with bunch of idiots . You do ur best but others ruin it. #AUSvIND
— ✌ Flawless (@ART_lover_09) January 20, 2016
India are Arsenaling this chase. #AUSvIND
— Amol Joshi (@amalezishi) January 20, 2016
For Indian Tailenders #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/IxeiLUVUWV
— Pawan SinghA (@urbanpendu00) January 20, 2016
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