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Australia will play fellow co-hosts New Zealand in Sunday's World Cup final in Melbourne after they beat defending champions India by 95 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.
Steven Smith's 105 and his second-wicket stand of 182 with opener Aaron Finch was the cornerstone of Australia's imposing 328 for seven, made after skipper Michael Clarke won the toss.
But India — unbeaten in their run to the semi-finals — fought back with paceman Umesh Yadav taking four for 72 before Mitchell Johnson smashed 27 not out off nine balls.
India made a bold start to their stiff chase but lost two quick wickets after opener Shikhar Dhawan holed out for 45.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the India captain, rallied his side with a run-a-ball 65 until he was run out by Glenn Maxwell's direct hit with only one stump to aim at.
India were eventually dismissed for 233.
New Zealand and Australia have already met at this World Cup, with New Zealand winning by just one wicket in a pool-phase thriller at Auckland's Eden Park last month.
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Comments (118) Closed
Mar 26, 2015 08:07am
May the better side win and India walk into the final.....
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Mar 26, 2015 08:08am
Sabhi Hindustani ka ek hi naara hai, ye world cup toh hamaara hai
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Mar 26, 2015 08:09am
Go India Go!!! Unpredictable things happening this world Cup. It might be our day too. Loose or win you have made us proud.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:11am
in the last 10 knockout matches between Australia-India...India had won 8 matches and Australia won 2 matches
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Mar 26, 2015 08:14am
India's day!
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Mar 26, 2015 08:15am
Good luck Team India from your neighbours
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Mar 26, 2015 08:15am
Go India go.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:15am
Good Luck team India !!! InshAllah you will win !!! Prayers from Pakistan !!!
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Mar 26, 2015 08:16am
If cricket is business, then winning world cup is march year ending target
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Mar 26, 2015 08:16am
India will win.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:17am
Go Aus Go...I am with you...
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Mar 26, 2015 08:17am
All the best to our very own Team India. Thrash the Aussie team and restore the pride of the subcontinent. Play well and strike early.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:19am
Men in Blue , we are with you.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:21am
May the best team win.... Thanks for your support, Pakistani friends...
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Mar 26, 2015 08:21am
Hope India will win this match. All the best team India. Bring back the cup again to Asia!!
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Mar 26, 2015 08:23am
I think Aussies forgot last world cup encounter with India in 2011 at Ahmedabad. Aussies batted first there also.
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Mar 26, 2015 08:27am
All Indian comments here ...Please comment after losing as well :)
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Mar 26, 2015 08:28am
#Go Gold# Aussie Aussie Aussie
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Mar 26, 2015 08:34am
More Expectations from Shami.......
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Mar 26, 2015 08:36am
Mauqa mauqa for an imposing total. Go aussies
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Mar 26, 2015 08:39am
Zak and Harmony, please come and wish Australia to Maul India like anything!
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Mar 26, 2015 08:47am
Sad day for India
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Mar 26, 2015 08:49am
@Faisal faisal 1 out thoda aur jor laga bhai
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Mar 26, 2015 08:56am
Need another wicket in yhe first 10 overs
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Mar 26, 2015 09:01am
Aus will make 360+ , while India may falter below 250 while chasing formidable bowling of Australia.
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Mar 26, 2015 09:18am
@Faisal
Even if India loses, we will be proud of our team for what they have achieved in this world cup......
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Mar 26, 2015 09:20am
@TanBhartiyaMay
"Zak and Harmony, please come and wish Australia to Maul India like anything!"
Well, Zak will do it undoubtedly, but Harmony is never vitriolic ...
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Mar 26, 2015 09:21am
@pakistani Thank you
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Mar 26, 2015 09:22am
@Kamran Tauqir , @Pakistani:
Thanks for the good wishes. Hopefully we can avenge Pakistan's QF defeat.
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Mar 26, 2015 09:30am
This one will go down till the last ball!
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Mar 26, 2015 09:31am
Australia looking ominous right now. 300+ on the cards.
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Mar 26, 2015 09:33am
Why am I even following this game?.
It's simply North India vs the Largest Island (Technically it's the 7th Continent, & Greenland the largest island), a Penal Colony!
R. Ashwin is just a blur {Thanks to his [CSK] colleague, MSD}!!!
Imagine Pakistan without cricketers from Sindh (Karachi) vs Australia!
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Mar 26, 2015 09:44am
if v had Riaz like bowler, aus'd be in trouble certainly..
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Mar 26, 2015 09:48am
Here we go. We are gonna lose this one :(
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Mar 26, 2015 09:48am
@Zak now I am confident we are going to win because you are on other side...
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Mar 26, 2015 10:00am
@pakistani Appreciate it Brother... Thanks
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Mar 26, 2015 10:00am
Dhoni should have gone with Stuart Binny or Axar Patel instead of Ravindra Jadeja.
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Mar 26, 2015 10:12am
Aus is playing very well at the moment. Looks like they will make 350+. If Ind is able to keep them @ 300, chance to win. Otherwise no chance. All the best.
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Mar 26, 2015 10:17am
No hope for India its not India's day today.
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Mar 26, 2015 10:20am
Thanks for All Pakistani support to India and against India. Cricket need support
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Mar 26, 2015 10:20am
Indian bowling being weak and bad luck is hurting India.
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Mar 26, 2015 10:21am
Need wickets, Team India josj dikhao, buck up!
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Mar 26, 2015 10:23am
certainly wickets are not falling and aussies are set for mammoth total but at the end rockstars ( indian team ) will only win... no matter what be....
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Mar 26, 2015 10:24am
I fail to understand why host Australia would make a flat wicket for a world cup semi final? Specially when they are playing against India who has quality spinners in their team and India's batting struggle against pace and bounce.
Anything less then 330-340 and India will cruise to victory on this wicket.
I am enjoying the game
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Mar 26, 2015 10:40am
@Kamran Tauqir Thank you for good gesture
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Mar 26, 2015 10:41am
@Acp Rathod hahhaah nice delusion ACP
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Mar 26, 2015 10:45am
Perfect batting pitch, power hitter raina is the key for this match , hope he plays well so that india doesnt miss yuvraj today...
Big scores are chasable if raina , dhoni plays well...
Dhoni is not quiete at his hitting best like in two years ago, guys like jadeja shud step in today
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Mar 26, 2015 10:49am
Dhoni did a mistake by over bowling ashwin and may be jadeja as well..
He cud hv given raina few overs..
May be who knows he has some plans as well
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Mar 26, 2015 11:05am
At this stage, with batting power play around the corner and Maxwell around, Aus have real Mauqa to cross 350. Indians are you listening??MAUQA MAUQA MAUQA MAUQA
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Mar 26, 2015 11:08am
Wat a quality fielding by india best in Asia and best in world
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Mar 26, 2015 11:11am
It will be a superb chase for Indians great lions if Australia score more than 400.
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Mar 26, 2015 11:12am
Many Pakistani are in yellow T-shirt supporting Australia, and they look more happy than Australians when any boundary is hit....:-))...Our Pakistani brothers have capabilities to find happiness in others success because they don't see Pakistan succeeding in any field..Specially when its against India......
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Mar 26, 2015 11:13am
@Acp Rathod ... wrong... Australia never lost any semis.
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Mar 26, 2015 11:25am
yadav is getting wickets but giving so many runs... shami seems in pressure thats what hurting team most, though his economy and ashwin too is good... they are right on track...
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Mar 26, 2015 11:32am
@Zak Hey Zak. Keep cheering up for Aussies.. It's so lucky for us !!! LOL
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Mar 26, 2015 11:34am
Another wicket...Good!! India will definitely win this match and target score will be less than 300.. Good luck India
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Mar 26, 2015 11:38am
@shekhar The wickets has pulled back the scoring rate. 250/5 at end of 43 overs. Wickets was the key to bring the run rate down.
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Mar 26, 2015 11:57am
What a match. Lots of see-saw happening. ODI at its best!
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Mar 26, 2015 12:12pm
@Veronica If you want us to sympathize with you team, just ask! your Bollywood style comment would not earn you any sympathies, I was once told by an Indian that nothing unites India more than the hatred for Pakistan, so obviously you will some Pakistanis would not want India to win today.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:17pm
There goes our chance. Farewell world cup. We have no hope to chase this huge target. :(
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Mar 26, 2015 12:18pm
we are going to lose, this target is very high for Semi final
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Mar 26, 2015 12:18pm
@Zak Every side you cheered for has lost. Now you are cheering for india's opponents. Thanks!
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Mar 26, 2015 12:19pm
A lot of expectation from dhawan,kohli and dhoni as they play good against pacers..
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Mar 26, 2015 12:24pm
Tough Target but not impossible. India needs goid start with credible partnerships. Star batsmen must show their mettle today. All the best guys, dont give up too easily.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:28pm
@mehboob malik , @ Nangyal
India restricted Austrslua to 328. A daunting total no doubt but not the 350-400 you all were saying. RRR is less than NZ. This does not mean Infia WILL do it but it means it is doable.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:29pm
@Acp Rathod ..Do you mean this is going to be third for Australia ??
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Mar 26, 2015 12:33pm
India was lucky (good) to get a cluster of wickets including Maxvell and Finch. 328 won't be a problem for India's strong batting line. For me India still favourit.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:34pm
@nangyal .. Not a big total for India to chase
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Mar 26, 2015 12:42pm
Indian players will be tired , fielding and sweating , it will be a miracle if they cross 200-250 .
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Mar 26, 2015 12:43pm
@Zaffar at last ###dhoni will save india watch it with his cool batting and helicopter shot.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:44pm
Last world cup won by india. This world cup belongs to Australia and next one to england.
Remember BIG 3!!!
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Mar 26, 2015 12:48pm
Rohit shud play tightly!
160 at the end of 30 overs is enough
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Mar 26, 2015 12:51pm
There are two ways to go about it when you are chasing 328. Either you blast in the beginning to bring down the run rate or you can blast later. I would say....copy the australian innings pace. They scored with a run rate of 5.7 in indian 25 overs. Go for that...keep wickets in hand. Later you can go ...bang bang. if you try ...to blast in the beginning and lose 2-3 quick wickets...the pressure is going to kill you. Just pace the innings the way aussies did.
if some team can score the highest run chase in world cup Semi history, then its you. You can do it. #bleedblue.
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Mar 26, 2015 12:52pm
Dhoni shud have had few overs of ashwin for death
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Mar 26, 2015 12:55pm
Real challenge for team India...play your natural game...
all praise for team NZ fo their outstanding performance
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Mar 26, 2015 01:02pm
I hope Indian audience are not going to repeat the history of 1996 semi finals against Sri Lanka.
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Mar 26, 2015 01:05pm
@Calcutta Man - You said it...thank you!
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Mar 26, 2015 01:26pm
The total number of Indians concentrating on their work today is 11.
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Mar 26, 2015 01:33pm
Let's see if its a thriller like the other semi?
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Mar 26, 2015 01:33pm
India will win with its strongest batting lineup. We r cool n confident players.no sledging, no riaz kinda showoff.........but only eyeing on victory.
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Mar 26, 2015 01:49pm
Pakistani batsman should learn some thing from Indian batsman on how to chase big totals. If pakistan would have chased in todays match, I am sure they would have lost 3-4 wickets by now.
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Mar 26, 2015 01:54pm
Oh boy Kohli is in!
And Anushka Sharma is watching in audience.
If he gets out cheaply, he will have to face big backlash in India for having distraction (Anushka) there.
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Mar 26, 2015 01:58pm
And Kohli is out. Wow I can't imagine how much trouble he will be in. He totally was unfocused and looked under pressure. Anushka should have watched him in the group games instead of semi final!
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Mar 26, 2015 01:59pm
Indian friends, Indo-Pak Cricket rivalry apart, we wish you success in semi- and final both, and would love to see Dhoni eleven retaining the world cup in subcontinent.
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Mar 26, 2015 02:14pm
Looks like India #WillGiveItBack
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Mar 26, 2015 02:16pm
@Acp Rathod looks like now it would be 8-3
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Mar 26, 2015 02:18pm
very very poor show by opener.... useless ppl... they runied match.... very hard for dhonia raina now....
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Mar 26, 2015 02:19pm
@Calcutta Man .... Either a better side or India will win ... While you know which is the better side.
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Mar 26, 2015 02:21pm
Mauka Mauka Mauka Mauka
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Mar 26, 2015 02:21pm
better they loose here only , newzeeland is far superior
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Mar 26, 2015 02:22pm
@arunachal pradesh india
I've switched off live streaming, it's not Dhoni's cup of tea to chase this target. It is quite a disappointment to see the batsmen were in a hurry to dreasing room. Its the arrogance of the Stars speak the rest. Its a great day for @Zak. Enjoy....
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Mar 26, 2015 02:22pm
@RKhan - My bad...that "distraction" did it.
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Mar 26, 2015 02:28pm
haha mauka mauka, looks like gone mauka. Very disappointing performance by Indian players till now.
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Mar 26, 2015 02:41pm
Keep on watching loosing India while chasing a huge target.
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Mar 26, 2015 02:54pm
India going down !!
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Mar 26, 2015 02:55pm
Proud of you India, Played well, you bumped into a very good side.... No hard feelings, you made it to the Semis.... Kudos!
You have to give it back, but that's ok!
All the very best & Good Job!
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Mar 26, 2015 03:01pm
I was saying all along that Aussies will totally smash India. India should have taken the pre world cup games against Australia more seriously.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:02pm
With Many Pakistanis Supporting MS Dhoni, I too Want 'em to win. No Rivalry, No mocking, No Bashing For Today. No Joke Cracking. May Dhoni 11 Win. Love From Pakistan. Cheers For Indians Today!
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Mar 26, 2015 03:03pm
The only outcome India can now wish and hope is: Their defeat is less worse than the defeat of tigers by New Zealand.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:07pm
Mauka Mauka.... Mauka Mauka....
Ab Austrailia say harne ka baad mile ga India ko ghar jane ka Mauqa...!
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Mar 26, 2015 03:14pm
@Babay thanks for that comment babe. The game is still not over.
Also what goes around always comes back.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:27pm
To be honest I have no reason to like Indians except DHONI... He is the match winner Like our Javaid Miandad.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:33pm
Anushka Sharma (Virat's GF) travelled to Australia to see Virat scoring One Run lol ... Moqa MOqaa Moqa MOqaa
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Mar 26, 2015 03:39pm
Air India is ready to take Indian team home...
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Mar 26, 2015 03:41pm
India missed the big prescence of yuvraj in the middle order ..
He was the man of series of 2011 50 over cup , and his sole efforts won india most matches in t20 triumph...
Sad to see him out of the team he can easily clear the bigger boundries and will stand up to aussies
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Mar 26, 2015 03:45pm
@RKhan - Looks like Anushka definitely brought some "charm" but not for Kohli!
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Mar 26, 2015 03:47pm
My team is out of World Cup. This is my third team in a row. What a shame. Pak,South Africa now india and I want kiwis to lift the cup.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:49pm
We are not going to give it backkkkkkkkkkkkkk..........
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Mar 26, 2015 03:49pm
@Veronica If they adopted Australian nationality they should be cheering for their new country. Why do you find it anti-India? btw everyone has seen Indian supporters cheering other teams against Pakistan, specially in the days when Indian team was so pathetic that they were constantly refusing to play against Pakistan bringing politics into cricket to rescue their team. Still, I support Indian team today, they are talented and deserve the victory.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:50pm
Australia vs NZ - Final - It will be really a delight to see if NZ wins the WC 2015
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Mar 26, 2015 03:54pm
Where are you ACP RATHOR!
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Mar 26, 2015 03:55pm
Hi Folks, I already said that India will lose to Australia and NewZealand.
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Mar 26, 2015 03:55pm
INdia looking for 25o! They will achieve it i reckon.
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Mar 26, 2015 04:17pm
@Harshavardhan Okay calling a classy bowler show off you know thats the reason you are loosing ,
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Mar 26, 2015 04:27pm
Indian were asking to take our revenge from Australia. I think if you lost in respectable way like us that was enough. But you lost by huge margin. Head down to pride.
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Mar 26, 2015 04:29pm
Indian tail end do not want to miss the Air India flight.................
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Mar 26, 2015 04:34pm
Congratulations to Ausis, you played far better than us, All the best for Final
Team Dhoni - Hard luck today, but, you guys also make us proud & deserve a respect for playing so well...We are proud of you :)
Excited to watch BlackCap Vs Ausis now... I wish black cap win it as they have played amazingly... specially Cap. Macullum.
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Mar 26, 2015 04:36pm
Lol at those who mocked Pakistan & were with Australia for a better "competition". There is no need to fly that high. You cant buy every match!
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