brendon does it again

When the match ended off the final ball of the day,two elder brothers were put in contrasting sibling situations. Nathan McCullum....

When the match ended off the final ball of the day,two elder brothers were put in contrasting sibling situations. Nathan McCullum,after an obligatory tap to complete the winning run,rushed over to younger brother and hero of the day Brendon with a we did it shout. At around the same time,Yusuf Pathan gingerly walked up towards Irfan,who had bowled the final over,wondering,perhaps,how to word his it happens consolations.

New Zealand needed 12 runs off the final over,the equation that came down to a thrilling one ball,one run scenario. Irfan surprised the batsman with a short ball,and Brendon McCullums attempted pull skewed off the blade. Unfortunately for him,with the field coming in to stop any possibility of a single,the ball ballooned just over a diving Rohit Sharmas outstretched fingers.

It has been that kind of a series for India. As the focus moves to the ODI series,Indias T20 post-mortem will include too many what ifs starting with What if Virender Sehwag had lasted longer after he hit three sixes off the first three balls he faced in Christchurch and ending with What if Rohit was standing a couple of steps back for the last ball.

Skipper MS Dhoni sounded positive despite the 2-0 scoreline,and was proud of the fact that his side fought hard to take the game down to the wire despite putting up just 149 runs on the board. But Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori didnt have to put on his reading glasses and check the details of the scoreboard to feel elated. With the five-wicket win following the seven-wicket triumph at Christchurch,the results were an indicator that the Kiwis hadnt just struck early,but also got their noses in front for the rest of the trip.

If India were too aggressive in the opening game,on Friday they seemed too cautious. Before these two games,the biggest threat for New Zealand from the Indian camp came from their free-stroking openers. But the New Zealand bowlers have got the better of them in both matches. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have given a glimpse of what they are capable of,but in Iain OBrien New Zealand have found a pacer who shouldnt be overawed by them in the ODI series.

The Indian pacers too arrived on these shores with a massive reputation,but as Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum put on a match-defining opening partnership of 53 in 4.4 overs shared by Zaheer Khan,Irfan and Ishant Sharma the Kiwi dressing room would have felt happy that they could take them on. The big positive for India has been Harbhajan Singhs effectiveness,but at least in the T20s,he was nullified by the outstanding show of Vettori himself. McCullum swept his second straight Man of the Match award for the unbeaten 69.

Dhoni isnt wrong when he says that the twin losses shouldnt affect the morale of his team too much,but there is no denying the fact that this start has provided the hosts with some spark. Mishaps happen all the time in the unpredictable world of Twenty20,but India have to ensure that the trend stops right here.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More