Bhajji was actually reluctant to bowl either the 19/20 th over against Australia in the semifinals. It was only after Dhoni thought over he asked him to bowl the 18th over. Again in the finals Bhajji never wanted to bowl the final over. He knew the repurcussions of losing the final and wanted to make a scape goat out of Joginder. Bhajji was certainly scared out of his wits in both the games. I would not say selfish but scared. Guys, you have to give credit to Joginder for agreeing to bowl those last overs in both matches. Remember when sachin and Sehwag were slogging Shoaib Akthar in SA WC 2003, he asked waqar younis to remove himself (akhtar)! Same situation here with our own Bhajji. Despite his off spin credentials, I would prefer a good and unafraid soldier like Joginder. He has his own limitations as a bowler but thoroughly a team man and unegoistic!
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by ajit pal singh on Sep 27, 2007 04:03 PM Permalink
very true! leaving aside the fact,my friend, joginder had no choice!!!
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by Author on Sep 27, 2007 04:04 PM Permalink
You would have saide exactly opposite of what you have written had misbah hit the ball just few yards away from Shreesanth!!!! We were lucky enough that the ball went straight to shreesanth, Joginder has no contribution at all in this wkt, it was all from misbah and a dlooy catch by shreesanth. Joginder still remain useless bowler, especially in ODI's Had Bhajji been sacared to bowl, he would have refused to bowl any of the overs at the end of innings. Look how he managed to bowl against Aussies. Dhoni was so confident on Bhajji that he gave bhajji to bowl 18th over against aussies, a single loose ball and aussies wold have gone on the top. Similarly dhoni gave 19th over to RP and when the entire situation was in hand , he gave ball to Joginder
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by sanju mathew on Sep 27, 2007 04:20 PM Permalink
very true!!!but he was lucky 2 get the wickets in last moments crucial moments of both the match!!! i think its a matter of luck. but he should not be picked 4 ODIs, because he is not fit 4 the job!!!
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by joydip bhattacharya on Sep 27, 2007 05:26 PM Permalink
bit harsh...... let him play in ODI and prove himself...after the success in 20-20 he deseves to get a chance....
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by aman overseas on Sep 27, 2007 04:10 PM Permalink
pehli ball wide kisne daali thi darrrr se pyare bhaiyaa DC ??????
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by N Vivek on Sep 27, 2007 04:20 PM Permalink
You are wrong. Misbah misjudged the cleverly bowled slower delivery. Full credit to Joginder.
RE:RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by Gutur Gutum on Sep 27, 2007 04:09 PM Permalink
Dont be that harsh Author. Lets put it this way. Joginder Sharma has to learn so much in international cricket. He is not useless but he is not effective too. And in fact the slowness of the pitch and his slow ball, made that shot go awry. Any other medium pacer/ fast bowler, the ball would have crossed boundary line.
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by Author on Sep 27, 2007 04:15 PM Permalink
Fact are harsh. You have mentioned that if other mediumpacer/ fast bowler, the ball would have crossed boundary line. 19th over was bowled by RP, misbah could not hit him, Only boundray came in last ball and that to it was a thick edge. Dhoni and no choice left except Joginder and Bhajji and misbah had hit bhajji for 3 sixes in previuos bhajji over, so he gave the ball to Joginder. We had almost lost the match, but to our luck shresanth caught a dolly from a to-be-hit ball. Had this ball crossed the boundary, joginder would have been a history today. This would have been his first and last tour with Team India.
RE:Joginder the real soldier: bhajji not a team man!
by Prasad on Sep 27, 2007 04:09 PM Permalink
Bhaji might be scared, but its sensible thing to do. Its easy to score runs of off-spinners than medium pacers, well most of the time, esp. during the last 2 overs of 20/20. Hence it makes sense for him to avoid bowling. But remember, vs Aus bhaji did well to give only 3 runs and also took a wkt of 18th over.
