Restrained in its criticism of the Indian cricket team, the usually aggressive Australian media was in celebratory mode as it focused on lavishing praise on Michael Clarke’s men for ousting the World Cup defending champion with a comprehensive semifinal triumph.
Chasing a stiff target of 329, India was all out for 233 and the media here restricted its criticism to the opportunities that the tourists failed to grab in the clash on Thursday.
“If India were going to have any chance of chasing down Australia’s target, it was going to come down to one of Dhoni or Kohli to go the distance but neither managed to,” a report in the Daily Telegraph said.
“There was hope for India for as long as M.S. Dhoni was still at the crease, but in the semifinal of the World Cup the Indian skipper simply gave up.
“It was a superb throw, but Dhoni seemed to retire halfway down the pitch. There was no dive, no last-ditch attempt to make his ground, he simply ran straight down the tunnel. And with him vanished India’s last sliver of hope,” the report said.
Another newspaper Sydney Morning Herald also described Dhoni’s innings as “bizarre”.
