A match worth calling a Semi Final...

somebody asked me yesterday if adam gilchrist's blitzkrieg was among the best limited overs innings i had seen. i think reducing the scope actually does the innings a disservice. it was the finest displays of clinical batsmanship i have ever seen. apart from one or two slogs, no more, there was purity of shotmaking and the kind of self-belief that only the greatest can be blessed with. he has played many great innings but if i restrict myself to those i have seen this would rank with the century he scored against india at mumbai in 2001. it was that good.

to be frank, i would have remembered the game even without this epochal innings. the delhi daredevils' counterattack from 0-2 was thrilling and a great example again of how to back yourself and make the most of a situation. other teams might have tried to keep wickets and finished 25-2 in 6 overs but sehwag and dilshan were excellent and except for a little slump between overs 10 and 15 they actually batted well. as it turned out it didn't matter and though the daredevils lost again in a semi-final they can go back without any regrets. because one man created magic. that is what t20 is all about. you cannot plan beyond a point.

i have also believed that on the big day, the big guns must stand up and be counted. you can coax, cajole, encourage your younger, less experienced players to over-perform some days but in a big game they will be nervous. suman and bilakhia and harmeet were bound to be overawed (though suman has been a minor discovery of the tournament) and this is the time the giants carry the others on their shoulders. gilchrist was leading from the front and that alone is inspirational. when it comes off it is thrilling but often it comes off because you give yourself the best possible chance of it coming off.

if i had to script a commercial for t20 cricket, this match would be it.