CRICKET, WORLD CUP & INDIA

Come 17th and all the roads for the cricket fans across the world will lead to Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh where the opening ceremony of cricket’s biggest carnival, the ICC Cricket World Cup, will be held. The tenth edition of the cricket extravaganza co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will kick-start on 19th with the first match being played between India and Bangladesh. A total of 14 countries will battle it out on the cricketing pitch for the cricket’s most coveted cup that consists of a golden globe held by three silver columns and weighs around 11Kg. But only one team that will play hard, gives consistent performance throughout and keeps their nerve under pressure will deservingly lift the trophy on April 2nd.

In India, cricket is nothing less than a religion that is followed by one and all and a cricket world cup is a grand festival for us. The fact that India is co-host of the tournament and will be hosting 29 of the total 49 matches including the final, pulls up the crescendo of the excitement. Every match, especially those involving Indian team, will be followed ball-by-ball. Each stroke played and every ball bowled will be closely analyzed by millions of Indians. Every bowling or fielding change will kick-off wide debates in stadiums, drawing rooms, cafes, and outside TV showrooms. New talents will be unearthed. New heroes will rise. But at end of the day it will be every Indian’s wish that it should be the team India that wins the world champions crown.

Team India’s performance has been noteworthy in the recent past. A number 2 ranking in one day internationals speak volumes of efforts that the current Indian team has been putting in for last few years. Under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and watchful eyes of the coach Gary Kirsten Indian team has been growing steadily in all the three departments of the game. As the team starts its world cup campaign, lets us have a sneak preview of our probable playing XI.

Batting has been our strength always. In Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag we have one of the best opening pair of the world. Any words about Sachin do not completely represent his cricketing greats. He is above all the available cricketing jargons. Watching him play is a treat in itself and our eyes never get tired of watching him play those drives, cuts and sweeps.

Viru, when on song, is most destructive batsman in the world. His merciless attacks on the bowler dents the confidence of the even best bowlers of opposition. Gautam Ghambir, being actually an opener, is ideal for the number 3 slot. He can continue the momentum if India gets good start and can also step in to provide a good start when one of the openers falters.

India’s middle order is rich comprising of likes of Kohli, Yuvraj and the captain himself. Virat Kohli has been in form of his life hitting runs consistently at home and away. No surprise, he was the only player from the old squad retained by his IPL franchisee. Yuvi is one of the most experienced batsman of the team having played previous two world cups. He is more of an all-rounder having the capability of taking wickets with his slow left-arm spin bowling. He is also one of the cleanest hitters of the game and lofting a ball for six is his favourite shot.

The Indian captain is the core around which the whole team is build. His cricketing acumen is well known. He is appreciated more for keeping his cool even in intense pressure situations. One of the hardest hitters of the game he also keeps the score board ticking by running hard. He has safest hands behind stumps as well.

Yusuf Pathan’s recent heroics had cemented his place as lower middle order batsman. A batsman of caliber of Yusuf is very important for India’s scheme of things both when it is batting first or when chasing a target. He is the another all-rounder in the side with ability to bowl good off-spin.

India’s bowling attack will be comprised of 4 regular bowlers with the Yusuf, Yuvi, Sehwag and Kohli filling the spot of fifth bowler with their part-time spin. In all probability a 3 pacer and a lone specialist spinner will make the bowling attack of the team considering the availability of part time spinners. India’s bowling attack will be led by the gusty Zaheer and fiery Harbhajan. A very few bowlers in the world cricket have the ability to swing both the old and new ball and no one does it better than Zaheer on the Indian wickets. This is one bowler who has been consistently delivering for the team taking wickets regularly and bowling a tight line in death overs. He is a handy batsman as well and can play big shots when required.

Harbhajan will be the automatic choice of the lone specialist spinner. He is most successful off-spinner of India having a good economy rate in ODIs. A leading wicket taker for the team, the ‘doosra’ is his secret weapon. He can also swing his bat to gather few useful runs.

Among the other bowlers, Ashish Nehra will be the preferred choice for the second seamer because of the variation and accuracy in his bowling. Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel will fight for the third seamer slot and kind of the opposition will decide who gets to bowl in that match. If a second specialist spinner is required Ashwin will be the captain’s choice considering his ability to bowl tight spells giving few runs and also to provide breakthroughs at regular intervals. Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla may get their chance in case of injuries.

This Indian team looks a formidable side with right mix of youth and experience. They have been beating the best sides of the world for last 2 years and there is no reason they cannot do it this time as well. They will be well supported by the cricket frenzy fans of India throughout the tournament. However, the fans deserves nothing less than a world cup win from the men in blue and achieving this feat on Indian soil will be the perfect tribute to an average Indian. Let us all wish our team the best for the mega event and hope that it will be the team India that will lift the trophy at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai on April 2nd. Lets us hope that this long cherished dream of Sachin Tendulkar, that has been eluding him for past 5 world cups, comes true this time.