India being the defending champions of the World cup cricket, has much more responsibility to come back on track and perform well in the world cup. The current form of the team is a big question mark, with the team not performing collectively. And unlike the earlier world cup, where spin played a major role, this world cup is being played on pace friendly tracks and Indian bowling attack is not so good in such conditions.
Moreover, from the last world cup there are few changes to the rules in ODI cricket
1. Usage of 2 new balls from each end
2. Power play overs reduced to 15( First ten overs mandatory, 5 overs batting powerplay before 40th over)
3. Only 4 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle in non-powerplay overs, against 5 allowed in the previous edition.
4. Spin friendly tracks in 2011 World cup Vs pace friendly tracks in 2015 world cup.
The above new set of rules has made the part time bowlers role limited in ODI's, whereas part timers were so effective in the previous world cup( remember Yuvi playing a significant role with the ball). Still, there are much more ways to tackle this if some kind of effective plans are made , all needs is batsmen in form and bowlers doing decent job with fielders supporting them. Its so simple, but how far India can make this effective, considering the performances its showing the CB series is putting serious doubts in the minds of Indian cricket lovers!
Indian team in Group Stage:
The group stage for India is set up very well, the other teams in the group being South Africa, Pakistan, Westindies, Zimbabwe, Ireland,UAE. Top four teams qualify for the knockouts. To make that happen, minimum requirement is win 3 games with good margin to progress. With teams like UAE,Ireland,Zimbabwe and WestIndies in the group, India's chances of qualifying to the knockouts is more or less confirmed, unless a very bad or worst performance against the lower ranked sides happens, which is the least possibility. If Indians perform reasonably well with both bat and ball, qualifying to knock outs is never a question mark.
India Vs Pakistan
India's opening match against Pakistan is more than the world cup finals for them, as India will look its clean sweep record against Pakistan in World cups and Pakistan wants to make it a no-clean sweep. The first time both these teams met in a world cup is in 1992 in Australia and this time its the same country hosting the match. There were India Vs Pakistan clashes in 1996, 1999,2003,2011 and all the games were won by India. More than 50k viewers are expected to watch this match on the venue( all tickets sold out on the day it opened within a span of less than 30 mins, much more than any other match in this world cup) and about 3 crore( 30 million) viewers on television.
India relies on its batting strength and Pakistan on its bowling strength. If Indian batsman out perform the Pakistani's by a good margin, then the match will be in India's favor, as an Indian, I wish to see India winning this game than any other game in the entire world cup. The match is a pure contest between Indian Top 6 batsmen Vs Pakistan bowlers. On paper this match looks of 50-50 chance for both the teams.
India Vs South Africa
The only team against which India lost a match in 2011 world cup is against South Africa and they have edge over the Indian's this time too. And South Africa is known for its choking and hopefully it happens against India.
South Africa is strong on both the batting and bowling fronts with Amla,De Cock, ABD, Steyn,Philander,Morne giving out their best on any given day. If India has to win this game, or atleast be competitive in the game, the top order needs to fare extremely well against the feiry SA pace attack and the bowlers need to contain the SA top batsmen, which is a difficult task. On paper, it looks 80-20 in favor of SA.
India Vs Westindies
Westindies, in the absence of Pollard and Bravo looks like a team that is regrouping, still there is Gayle at the top order, if he clicks, then it will be a good chance for the carribeans to win against any team on given day. They have Ramdin, Russel, Samuels who can hit big and if all click together India will find it tough to win the game. But on the other hand, India has firepower in batting and if its clicks well, it will be a tough job for the windies. On paper this looks like 70-30 in favor of Inda.
India Vs Zimbabwe
Compared to other full members in the group, Zimbabwe is the weakest side. And against India, if they want to win, they need to perform a miracle almost. Lack of depth in both batting and bowling fronts give the advantage to India in this game and on paper its 90-10 in favor of India.
India Vs UAE
The associate nation from Asia is yet to prove on the 50 over format against full nations and unless any miracles happen its easy game to Win for India. The chances are 98-2 in favor of India.
India Vs Ireland
The associate nation is known to give shocking defeats to full members in world cups, the win against Pakistan in 2007 shut doors for Pakistan progressing further and their win against England in 2011, chasing down 328 is a remarkable one in WC history and its a record chase in a WC match. India needs to be a bit cautious against this side to progress into knockout stage.
Knockouts
The likely combinations of QF match involving India is Australia, England, Srilanka, New Zealand. Except Srilanka all the other 3 teams are strong on pace friendly tracks and it needs a spectacular performance from the Indians to go into semifinals and finals.
Key Players need to perform:
Virat Kohli- The batting strength lies with the form of Virat undoubtedly and he needs to give star performances for India to reach knockouts and finals.
MSD- MSD should utilize his options available to the fullest and with the bat and gloves he need to perform.
Rohit Sharma/Shikar/Rahane - A lot depends on how these batsmen score runs at the top of the order either to chase down the target or put a stiff target to the opposition.
Bowlers : The bowlers needs to be much more consistent in line and lengths. Ishant, the most experienced of the bowling attack needs to spearhead and cause enough damages to the opposition. Shami/Bhuvi/Umesh should take atleast a wicket each in the first 10 overs to put brakes on the opposition scoring. Binny/Axar/Ashwin/Jaddu should concentrate more on tight bowling to contain the opposition and also take wickets.
On the whole, the real test for India is in the knockouts and they should take every game seriously in the league stage to reach knockouts.
Wishing the Men In Blue a success in this world cup 2015.
Moreover, from the last world cup there are few changes to the rules in ODI cricket
1. Usage of 2 new balls from each end
2. Power play overs reduced to 15( First ten overs mandatory, 5 overs batting powerplay before 40th over)
3. Only 4 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle in non-powerplay overs, against 5 allowed in the previous edition.
4. Spin friendly tracks in 2011 World cup Vs pace friendly tracks in 2015 world cup.
The above new set of rules has made the part time bowlers role limited in ODI's, whereas part timers were so effective in the previous world cup( remember Yuvi playing a significant role with the ball). Still, there are much more ways to tackle this if some kind of effective plans are made , all needs is batsmen in form and bowlers doing decent job with fielders supporting them. Its so simple, but how far India can make this effective, considering the performances its showing the CB series is putting serious doubts in the minds of Indian cricket lovers!
Indian team in Group Stage:
The group stage for India is set up very well, the other teams in the group being South Africa, Pakistan, Westindies, Zimbabwe, Ireland,UAE. Top four teams qualify for the knockouts. To make that happen, minimum requirement is win 3 games with good margin to progress. With teams like UAE,Ireland,Zimbabwe and WestIndies in the group, India's chances of qualifying to the knockouts is more or less confirmed, unless a very bad or worst performance against the lower ranked sides happens, which is the least possibility. If Indians perform reasonably well with both bat and ball, qualifying to knock outs is never a question mark.
India Vs Pakistan
India's opening match against Pakistan is more than the world cup finals for them, as India will look its clean sweep record against Pakistan in World cups and Pakistan wants to make it a no-clean sweep. The first time both these teams met in a world cup is in 1992 in Australia and this time its the same country hosting the match. There were India Vs Pakistan clashes in 1996, 1999,2003,2011 and all the games were won by India. More than 50k viewers are expected to watch this match on the venue( all tickets sold out on the day it opened within a span of less than 30 mins, much more than any other match in this world cup) and about 3 crore( 30 million) viewers on television.
India relies on its batting strength and Pakistan on its bowling strength. If Indian batsman out perform the Pakistani's by a good margin, then the match will be in India's favor, as an Indian, I wish to see India winning this game than any other game in the entire world cup. The match is a pure contest between Indian Top 6 batsmen Vs Pakistan bowlers. On paper this match looks of 50-50 chance for both the teams.
India Vs South Africa
The only team against which India lost a match in 2011 world cup is against South Africa and they have edge over the Indian's this time too. And South Africa is known for its choking and hopefully it happens against India.
South Africa is strong on both the batting and bowling fronts with Amla,De Cock, ABD, Steyn,Philander,Morne giving out their best on any given day. If India has to win this game, or atleast be competitive in the game, the top order needs to fare extremely well against the feiry SA pace attack and the bowlers need to contain the SA top batsmen, which is a difficult task. On paper, it looks 80-20 in favor of SA.
India Vs Westindies
Westindies, in the absence of Pollard and Bravo looks like a team that is regrouping, still there is Gayle at the top order, if he clicks, then it will be a good chance for the carribeans to win against any team on given day. They have Ramdin, Russel, Samuels who can hit big and if all click together India will find it tough to win the game. But on the other hand, India has firepower in batting and if its clicks well, it will be a tough job for the windies. On paper this looks like 70-30 in favor of Inda.
India Vs Zimbabwe
Compared to other full members in the group, Zimbabwe is the weakest side. And against India, if they want to win, they need to perform a miracle almost. Lack of depth in both batting and bowling fronts give the advantage to India in this game and on paper its 90-10 in favor of India.
India Vs UAE
The associate nation from Asia is yet to prove on the 50 over format against full nations and unless any miracles happen its easy game to Win for India. The chances are 98-2 in favor of India.
India Vs Ireland
The associate nation is known to give shocking defeats to full members in world cups, the win against Pakistan in 2007 shut doors for Pakistan progressing further and their win against England in 2011, chasing down 328 is a remarkable one in WC history and its a record chase in a WC match. India needs to be a bit cautious against this side to progress into knockout stage.
Knockouts
The likely combinations of QF match involving India is Australia, England, Srilanka, New Zealand. Except Srilanka all the other 3 teams are strong on pace friendly tracks and it needs a spectacular performance from the Indians to go into semifinals and finals.
Key Players need to perform:
Virat Kohli- The batting strength lies with the form of Virat undoubtedly and he needs to give star performances for India to reach knockouts and finals.
MSD- MSD should utilize his options available to the fullest and with the bat and gloves he need to perform.
Rohit Sharma/Shikar/Rahane - A lot depends on how these batsmen score runs at the top of the order either to chase down the target or put a stiff target to the opposition.
Bowlers : The bowlers needs to be much more consistent in line and lengths. Ishant, the most experienced of the bowling attack needs to spearhead and cause enough damages to the opposition. Shami/Bhuvi/Umesh should take atleast a wicket each in the first 10 overs to put brakes on the opposition scoring. Binny/Axar/Ashwin/Jaddu should concentrate more on tight bowling to contain the opposition and also take wickets.
On the whole, the real test for India is in the knockouts and they should take every game seriously in the league stage to reach knockouts.
Wishing the Men In Blue a success in this world cup 2015.
wow...good post..
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