- The much anticipated 50-over World Cup cricket to be held in India is just a few days away. The excitement, razzmatazz, buzz, and passion with which cricket connoisseurs look forward to the first ball to be delivered is quite palpable. Most of the participating teams have announced their playing fifteen and reached the country to prepare for the biggest event. Reams and reams have been written about how the game of cricket is popular and treated as no less than a religion in India. Such an exalted billing is justified since the majority of the revenue generated for the ICC originates from India as no other sport commands the reach or popularity of cricket here. No one is complaining though.
PC: AP
- Now, Team India did win the World Cup in 2011 when it was last staged here. Interestingly, every other World Cup has been won by the host nation since then. The moot point to ponder here is whether Team India can cross the distance this time with 1.45 billion citizens voicing vociferous support for the hosts to emerge triumph. Let’s look at the composition of Team India and how it positions vis-à-vis other teams to launch a serious bid to clinch the most-coveted trophy in the cricketing world. Rohit Sharma, the Hitman, leads the team which is not only endowed with quality and experienced players but also some of the most internationally heralded superstars with proven records as well as statistics to buttress the claims.
- Of course, Rohit would start the batting proceedings with the man in his life’s form i.e., Shubhman Gill who has shown immense promise/talent and runs over the last one-and-a-half years. Then there is the talismanic Virat Kohli whose ODI statistics are phenomenal. Especially while chasing and in the winning cause, Kohli is unmatchable. Shrugging off from an injury scare, Shreyas Iyer has struck timely form and is set to play a defining role if Team India wishes to go the distance. Another player back from a prolonged injury-forced absence is KL Rahul who has scored freely and impactfully in the last few games. And he has scoffed a lot of criticism for his batting of late. Mind you, he is a crucial cog in the team donning the keeper’s gloves too.
PC: Reuters
- Allrounder Hardik Pandya is a game-changer who would be itching to prove his prowess on the biggest stage. We know how capable Surya kumar Yadav could be when in full flow driving the opposition bowlers insane. Spinning all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and the late entrant to the team Ravichandran Ashwin could be the most potent bowling weapons in the sub-continental conditions. Ashwin comes with a huge amount of experience and more skills up his sleeves. Trust me, the pace bowling attack led by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj, and Shardul Thakur must rank as the best in the world on current form. Then there is the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav to add variety to the attack. Team India should lift the Cup!
