Four years ago, I had blogged extensively about the 2011
World Cup and while I may not be able to be so prolific this time around, I
will try to blog my views on it – with an India perspective of course!
The Indian ODI team is now a reasonably settled unit with
established competencies in batting and fielding. The bowling continues to be
India’s Achilles heel and the weaknesses are too many to be unfamiliar to the
Indian cricket fan.
Firstly the batting – with Rohit Sharma being prolific at
the top of the order and Kohli and Rahane also being very consistent, the weak
link is Shikhar Dhawan at the top. He seems to enjoy the (misplaced!)
confidence of the team management and has retained his place against all odds.
I can only hope that he comes good in the first couple of matches or else he
should make way for a Rahane-Rohit combination at the top. Kohli seems to want
to bat at #4 which leaves #3 open for Rayadu. Suresh Raina selects himself at
#5 and Dhoni in ODIs is too good to bat lower than #6. This leaves a critical
position open at #7 and Stuart Binny seems to be the man being groomed for the
job. In the absence of Binny, Ashwin will need to come in at #7. For the
bowlers, Yadav and Bhuvi select themselves which leaves two more slots. Shami
is well worth persevering with and Mohit Sharma would round off the playing
eleven.
There is unlikely to be room for Ravindra Jadeja, unless of
course Rayadu makes way for him and everyone moves up one slot to accommodate Jadeja
at #7.
The fielding is now quite competent with only a couple of
notable slow movers like Ashwin and Bhuvi. Yadav has a rocket of an arm and
while he may not dive around, stealing a second against him is likely to be
fraught with danger.
Now, how about the chances of the Indian team in the World
Cup? It has been a long season ahead of the World Cup in Australia for the team
and unsurprisingly it hasn’t gone too well. Dhoni’s retirement from Test
cricket was a shocker on tour and may have unsettled the dressing room. The
results have not been forthcoming and except for the last warm up game, India
have had a miserable tour. One can only hope that the World Cup pumps everyone
up and they think about the match at hand rather than taking the next flight
home.
India seem to be well placed in Pool B with the serious
competition coming from South Africa and Pakistan. Given Pakistan’s uncertain
form (perennial dark horses of every cricket competition!), both India and
South Africa should sail through. The West Indies just may spring a surprise,
however they haven’t been consistent for a long time now and there is no reason
to think that it will be any different this time around. Ireland may harbor hopes
of springing a surprise at the cost of the West Indies.
Given that four teams qualify from each Pool, the teams in
Pool A should be heaving a sigh of relief, else it could have been the group of
death. Here, the big 4, Australia, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand should
make it through with Bangladesh sniffing at their heels. However, of the two
Pools, Pool B with Ireland may have the only realistic chance of causing an
upset. Pool A is too strong for Bangladesh to make an impact.
So, on current form, Australia looks favourites with India,
South Africa and New Zealand capable of making it to the semis. One cannot
discount the determination of Sangakarra and Jayawardene for Sri Lanka and if
Dilshan fires at the top of the order, they could come very close. Pakistan is
the eternal enigma team of World Cricket and I suspect the tone of their
campaign will be set by the opening game against India.
My gut prediction is an India South Africa final whereas my
brain tells me that it is likely to be an Australia South Africa final. The
oracle has spoken!
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