07 April,2014 08:48 AM IST | | A Correspondent
The southpaw is the man who won India the World Cup in 2011 but Yuvi's dreadful batting display probably cost India the World T20 crown that saw the team post a low total of 130
Yuvraj Singh misses one during 21-ball 11. Pic/Getty Images
He is the man who won India the 50-over World Cup in 2011. A lot has changed since then, and on Sunday in Dhaka, Yuvraj Singh probably cost India the World T20 with a dreadful batting display that saw MS Dhoni's boys score a way below par 130 batting first. Sri Lanka, who had lost in World T20 final twice before, overhauled the target with 13 balls and six wickets to spare.
Yuvraj Singh misses one during 21-ball 11. Pic/Getty Images
Slow start
India didn't get off to a flier like they did against South Africa in semis. There were no boundary balls early on and Ajinkya Rahane was bowled by Angelo Mathews while trying to manufacture a shot.
Sharma-Kohli partnership
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli then focused on singles as the Lankans kept a check on Indian run-rate. India managed to hit just three fours in the power-play overs and got to 31 for one. The duo started to move on by clobbering Mathews for 14 runs with Sharma hitting him for a four and Kohli smacking him for a six. The duo added 60 runs in 54 balls.
Kohli's determination
Kohli wasn't in top gear for first half of his knock, but showed a very matured head by not throwing it away. And the timing that had momentarily deserted him came back soon for Kohli to hammer Nuwan Kulasekara for 16 runs in the 16th over.
Yuvi disaster
Instead of getting the momentum after that 16th over, India completely lost it from there on. Yuvraj, who has looked out of sorts in all but one game in the tournament so far, killed the momentum with an inexplicable and embarrassing display. He took strike for eight of the next 12 deliveries and scored just four. Eventually, he got out after scoring a 21-ball 11. By the time he got out, Kohli had lost a bit of momentum too. He got to face just eight off the last 24 deliveries.
Death bowling
An outstanding display of death bowling by Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga allowed India to score just 11 runs off the last three overs and just 15 off the final four. Skipper Dhoni was reduced to singles and dot balls as Malinga got six yorkers spot on in the 20th over.
Lanka maintain run-rate
Sri Lanka played some aggressive cricket in power-play overs to make sure that they didn't get under pressure. T Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene found boundaries regularly to take Lanka to 41 for two by the end of six overs. Jayawardene played some delightful strokes in his last T20 international knock of 24 in as many deliveries.
Fight from India
Although the Lankans always looked like under control, the Indian bowlers made things tough for them by picking wickets at regular intervals. At 78 for four, Lankans seemed a little under pressure.
Sanga on song
Kumar Sangakkara, also playing his last T20I game, made sure there were no heartbreaks this time with a match-winning 52-run knock. He and Thisara Perera added 56 off just 32 deliveries to see the side home with 13 balls remaining.
