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Television broken, posters burned as India reacts to Cricket World Cup defeat

In predictable fashion, Team India fans have all turned into blood-sucking zombies and have vowed to seek retribution in the wake of India’s 95-run World Cup semi final loss to Australia. What they plan to do is uncertain, but usually the first 48 hours of mourning a World Cup loss sadly give the public an indication of what's to come.

Usually, for “men in blue” fans, the heavy critiquing starts with either the captain or the best player. Considering Virat Kohli made 1 (from 13 balls ) and looked at sea when he was batting, fans identified him as a scapegoat and starting point to help with the grieving process. After a loss, you need to pick on someone, right?

During Kohli’s innings it was announced that his girlfriend, rising Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, was in the stands watching. All was good. Life was well. Then Kohli played a shot he’d rather forget to end his innings. At the time it meant nothing but because of the 95-run loss result it now means everything. Since the match ended , India fans have taken to social media claiming that because Sharma was at the game, she distracted him and it was her fault Kohli made a miserable score.

MS Dhoni defended Kohli and his shot, saying it’s just cricket, it happens and people should get over it. Those were not his exact words, but, it’s what he implied in his post-match press conference. The message will be lost over the one-billion fans or so, as bringing home third place at the World Cup is not acceptable.

The barrage on Twitter toward Kohli and his girlfriend was just the beginning of post-World Cup disgust and apocalyptic behavior. A Ranchi man broke his television set, clearly placing him in a lose-lose situation. Others got creative and burnt posters of their favourite players. Creepy. One family cancelled weekend celebrations in Mumbai which may have been the best overreaction yet.

When India loses cricket matches, their fans go through real life stages of actual grieving – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. In a huge back pedal that saw fans post #nevergiveitup before the semifinals, making the rounds now are #wemighthavetogiveitback and #wewillgiveitback hashtags on Twitter.

What's more conerning is that India captain MS Dhoni has beefed up security so his house doesn’t get stoned and trashed by angry mobs. He has security patrolling his premises regularly, but for World Cups and bigger tournaments he adds more bodies to protect his property from senseless damage.