India vs West Indies, World T20: Two No-Balls That Cost Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Men A Final Berth

West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons plays a shot during the World T20 semifinal match against India at Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai.

© AFP

Mumbai: India seemed to be doing almost everything right versus West Indies in the World T20 semifinal, till two small errors happened. They were two no-balls by Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya. It cost Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men the chance to win the tournament for the second time. India lost by seven wickets. (India vs West Indies semifinal Highlights | Scorecard)
After Virat Kohli's stellar 89* took India to a challenging total of 192/2, Indian bowlers gave the hosts a great start to reduce West Indies to 19/2.
However, Lendl Simmons and Johnson Charles had some other ideas. The duo hit Indian bowlers for cleaners as Wankhede Stadium gasped.
However, on the fifth ball of the seventh over Simmons, batting at 18, thick-edged Ashwin's delivery to Jasprit Bumrah at short third-man, who took a stunner. Wankhede erupted in joy, but got silenced a minute later as it was adjudged that Ashwi had over-stepped.
Simmons then went on to complete his half-century in 35 balls as West Indies galloped towards the target.
Another opportunity came on the final ball of the 15th over by Pandya, as Simmons was caught by Ashwin at cover. But again, a no ball came in between as Pandya was adjudged to have over-stepped.
Simmons went on to make 82 not out (off 51 balls) and take West Indies into the final with a stunning win.