Preview - INDIA

INDIA

Team India is now riding on a misplaced confidence of beating West Indies and Sri Lanka at home just a month back. However they would very well be advised to remember the horrible ODI series loss in South Africa just prior to these 2 home series.

India would be hoping to win the World Cup after 24 years and that too after a good showing in 2003. One would feel that this time around they are better balanced than 2003. In 2003, Tendulkar almost single handedly took India forward before the bowlers ruined it all up in the finals.

Zaheer has finally found some form after a hard kick in the rear. Agarkar still remains an enigma to one and all. He mixes good balls with poor ones with amazing regularity. Much would depend on how (badly) he bowls.

Munaf as a first change bowler is refreshing. He bowls stump to stump with McGrathesque accuracy. However Harbhajan has been disappointing off late. There is no point trying to just contain runs in the middle overs. One would rather have 50 for 4 in 10 overs rather than 30 for none. Captain must back him and set aggressive fields to prize out wickets. Here is where India missed a trick by not taking Powar and picked up the useless Kumble ahead of him.

Irfan Pathan sadly has been a shadow of himself. His pace has dropped down very badly and so is his confidence. His forte which is swing has seriously deserted him. He is a genuine match winner and a couple of good spells with wickets should do his confidence a world of good.

The less said about Kumble the better. Sreesanth is raw, aggressive and good but can be erratic sometimes. Both these guys would however not be in the first choice eleven.

Tendulkar, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Ganguly would be called up to roll their arms overs in case India decide to go with just 4 specialist bowlers.

Ganguly has had a terrific come back to ODIs too. He can destroy any attacks in the world and he backs himself to clearing the ropes against anybody (remember 99 World Cup against Sri Lanka and 2000 ICC Champions Trophy against SA) to name a couple).

Robin Uthappa is young and an aggressive player. He takes far too risks but even if his success rate is around 50% India will be extremely benefited. You need an out and out attacking player like him to take the match away from the opposition very quickly. Now that Sehwag has been in so poor form, the onus is on Uthappa to give India brisk starts.

None doubts how much damage Sehwag can do but how many chances can he be given is something to debate. Since Sehwag is struggling he can either play at 3 or be replaced with Pathan. Tendulkar provides solidity at 4 (though I feel he is best at opening). Dravid and Yuvraj complete the lineup and their middle over batting will be extremely critical since India has more than 1 unpredictable player at the top of the order. How much ever the tails wags it’s just a bonus. Dravid’s thinking and marshalling the resources would be extremely important.

It will be the last World Cup for great players like Dravid, Ganguly and Kumble. People would urge me to include Tendulkar in the list but he is just 33. If Lara, Inzy and McGrath can play at 37, I feel even Tendulkar can play another World Cup. But whatever it is, a major tournament trophy is missing in his great resume.

Strengths:
· Tendulkar’s versatility in controlling the middle overs both in batting and bowling.
· Dhoni’s slog overs hitting.
· Ganguly’s current form is positive.
· Munaf Patel’s accuracy.

Weaknesses:
· Woefully out of form Sehwag inspite of captain’s backing.
· Pathan’s bowling form creating imbalance in the team.
· Poor Fielding and fitness levels. Need to hide Ganguly and Munaf Patel in the field.
· Lack of wicket taking bowlers in the middle overs (where is Ramesh Powar ??)
· Kumble – can’t bat, can’t bowl, can’t field in ODIs. Karthik is average – waste of 2 spots.
· Agarkar is not dependable – he bowls a 4 ball atleast once every over.

Key Players:
· Leading run scorer in World Cups – Sachin Tendulkar
· Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni
· I guess I better say all :-)

Dark Horse:
· Robin Uthappa, Munaf Patel.

My Take:
· Semifinal / Final

My Team:
Saurav Ganguly, Robin Uthappa, Virender Sehwag (or Irfan Pathan), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (c), Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (wk), Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.