With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, every cricket fan is eager to watch yet another high-speed, pulsating and adrenaline pumping show put up by the best cricketing teams in the world. With the event being held in the Asian continent this time around, most of the teams from the continent are favorites for the title and none more so than the 50-overs World Champion, Team India.
So let’s have a quick overlook at how Team India is set up for the World Cup –
Strengths –
Arguably, the most experienced batting lineup in the tournament but almost every single batsman from the Indian team being a regular starter in their respective Indian Premier League teams. With Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, Team India has a formidable and explosive opening pair. The #3 position is as safe as a house with VIrat Kohli undertaking the responsibility to provide a solid base for the batsman after him. Be it the experience of Raina and Yuvraj Singh or the exuberance of Rahane and Rayudu the middle order is backed up well especially with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja providing the craftiness in the death overs.
Also another big advantage that the Indians might want to exploit will be the India-like pitches over in Bangladesh. They won’t be as bouncy and pacey as an Australian or a South African pitch and they will be favoring the spinners eventually after a few matches are played. Indians have Ashwin, Mishra, Jadeja as their main spin options with Raina and Yuvraj also no duds with the ball. Captain Dhoni is certainly not short of spinning options and this might very well be a huge added benefit for the Indian side.
Weaknesses –
It’s no secret that India’s bowling lineup is far from forceful when it comes to inciting that fear element in the opposition batsmen. With no real pace or bounce on what might be flat batting tracks most times, the Indians may not be too enthusiastic on defending any sort of total at all. It’s been emphasized time and again how Indians love to chase down a target rather than set one and defend it. But if the luck of the coin toss doesn’t go India’s way they might very well have to switch planes and aboard a different tactic.
The run-in to the World Cup hasn’t been that good for the Indians either. Losing in South Africa and New Zealand, followed up by a defeat by both Sri-Lanka and arch nemesis Pakistan to get knocked out of the Asia Cup before the finals wasn’t really the most ideal series of results that one would have wanted. Clearly the momentum isn’t with the Indians and this might affect the team morale too.
Key Players –
India’s main trump-card this World Cup has to be Virat Kohli. The #1 ICC ODI batsman in the world at present has tons of experience in the shortest format of the game and at Bangladesh his record is immaculate. Also, Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round contribution and M.S Dhoni’s ‘Captain cool’ style of captaincy might very well make the difference between winning and losing.
Prediction –
An experienced side and with the talent in that Indian side along with the hunger to do well in major tournaments, India should at-the-least make it to the semi-finals without much fuss. Having already won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy last year, it will not be a surprise should India go-on to even clinch the title.
