PM Modi Disappointed With India's WC Semi-Final Defeat But Appreciates Fighting Spirit Of Team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was disappointed with India making a semifinal exit from the World Cup but was impressed with the fighting spirit the team showed in the nail-biting contest against New Zealand.

The meeting will be attended by chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, union ministers and senior government officials./ PM Narendra Modi. PTI FILE

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was disappointed with India making a semifinal exit from the World Cup but was impressed with the fighting spirit the team showed in the nail-biting contest against New Zealand. Chasing 240, a top-order collapse put India under the pump before Ravindra Jadeja's sensational 77-run knock raised hopes of a turnaround but eventually the hot title-favourites fell short by 18 runs. "A disappointing result, but good to see #TeamIndia's fighting spirit till the very end. India batted, bowled, fielded well throughout the tournament, of which we are very proud. Wins and losses are a part of life. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours. #INDvsNZ," Modi tweeted. India had lost just one match en route the semifinal and finished on top of the table before the knock out the stage. India skipper Virat Kohli rued the manner in which India lost the World Cup semifinal, saying the team played so well throughout the tournament only to bow out in the last-four stage due to a poor stretch of "45 minutes". "Forty-five minutes of bad cricket puts you out of the tournament. Difficult to take it -- but New Zealand deserve it. Our shot selection could have been better, but we played good cricket throughout. New Zealand were braver in crunch situations and they deserve it," Kohli said at the presentation ceremony, referring to the period in which India lost four top-order batsmen, including Rohit Sharma and Kohli, inside 10 overs. India lost to New Zealand by 18 runs after restricting them to 239/8 in the rain-hit semifinal played over two days. Indian batters were undone by Matt Henry's brilliant opening spell as he returned figures of 3/37. Ravindra Jadeja (77) and MS Dhoni (50) shared a 116-run stand for the seventh wicket, but in the end that proved to be not enough, especially after Dhoni was caught short of crease by a brilliant direct hit by Martin Guptill. "We got what we needed in the field. We knew we had a good day yesterday, we felt like we had the moment, but credit has to go to NZ bowlers for the swing and help they got from the surface," Kohli said. The skipper also showered praise on Jadeja, saying: "Jaddu had an outstanding couple of games. He went with so much clarity... MS had a good partnership with him. It was a game of margins and MS was run-out."