ICC World T20 2016: Top quotes of the group stage

The ICC World T20 is well past the group stages and four teams, India, New Zealand, England and West Indies have qualified for the semi-finals.

The league stage was replete with action packed matches and nerve-wracking moments. Players from all sides gave it their all and the different conditions that were dished out tested the tactics and the abilities of both the players and the support staff.

Pitches were almost in stark opposite to each other, for instance, Nagpur and Dharamshala had slow and turning pitches. Mumbai was a flat deck that aided stroke play. Delhi and Kolkata were sluggish and needed greater application.

When teams are representing their countries in high-pressure scenarios there are bound to be instances where there will be tempers flaring and few tasty comments being passed. There have been few comments from players that stand out and perhaps reflected the mentality and the psyche of their respective teams.

Here are few quotes that will echo long after the tournament is over and i many ways voiced the sentiment of their respective teams.

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1.) Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi and controversy go hand in hand. The Pakistan skipper courted yet another controversy when he raked up the controversial issue of Kashmir during their match against India. Asked by former Pakistan cricket captain and now commentator Rameez Raja if he and his team had support from the crowds, Afridi said that "a lot of people are here for Kashmir". He came under heavy criticism for this statement, but then it did not faze him as he once again repeated his Kashmir comment during the post-match interview after Pakistan lost to Australia.

2.) Ben Stokes

In a crunch game against Sri Lanks against a rampaging Angelo Mathews who was taking his side to an unlikely victory, Ben Stokes was in the cauldron with 15 runs to get off the final over. It was a game hanging in the balance, but Stokes hurled three yorkers and then later exulted in the glory of having defended the runs.

"I said in an interview afterwards that I'd much rather be doing that last over thing than sitting there watching and hoping whoever bowled it gets us through. I'd rather be the man doing it. It's a lot easier on the nerves,” said Stokes after the match.

3.) Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been the fulcrum around which Indian batting has rotated for quite some time now. He has been phenomenal in the current World T20, and he made this statement after his phenomenal innings of 55 in 37 balls. Sachin Tendulkar was in the stands and Kohli in a poignant moment bowed down before him and then acknowledged the influence of Sachin in his career.

“I started playing cricket watching him. So to do it in front of 67,000 people with him celebrating, it was a great feeling,” he said.

4.) Darren Sammy

The ever cheerful West Indies captain, Darren Sammy in his typical style addressed media and said that they are confident of lifting the trophy. After registering convincing victories against England and Sri Lanka, Sammy echoed this sentiment on the eve of the match against South Africa. TYhey later went on to beat the Proteas to book a place in the semi-finals.

"We have six steps to the Cup, we've taken two, tomorrow (the match against South Africa) is about taking one more step toward our goal and that step is South Africa," he said.

5.) Mohammad Nabi

Afghanistan have certainly infused much delight into the ongoing World T20, and they have not been outplayed in any of their matches and almost toppled England.

They eventually did get on the board against table-toppers West Indies in their final league match and in many ways it was a testament of their attitude. Mohammad Nabi, who has ben one of the key performers reacted thus after their win and summed up all that is to know about Afghanistan cricket.

6.) MS Dhoni

Indian captain MS Dhoni is a beast when it comes down to running between the wickets. During the chase against Australia, Dhoni joined Kohli in the centre and the duo sprinted and outpaced Australian fielders on many occasions. They pinched six twos, including four off the 16th over. Dhoni certainly was justified in making this quite and wanted Kohli to pay him for running like that.

India pulled off the match, courtesy a Virat Kohli epic, but the importance of all those doubles can never be discounted.

7.) Steve Smith

After the remarkable chase, Steve Smith the Australian captain had no hesitation in accepting the fact they had gone down to an innings which was nothing short of special. The Aussie skipper praised Kohli and heaped accolades on the flamboyant batsman. Australi were dumped out of the tournament because of this knock.

8.) Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh had a very disappointing campaign and they were handed a severe jolt midway into the tournament with two of their bowlers being handed a suspension over illegitimate bowling actions Tere was a massive outpour of emotions in Bangladesh and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza too was visibly upset at this omission.

"We accepted that (Arafat) Sunny's action has problems. Even Sunny himself accepted it. But Taskin's ban was a complete shock for us," he said. It is understandable since Taskin Ahmed has been the pick of the bowlers for them and Bangladesh was left grappling with options and they never recovered.