- The ongoing 50-over cricket World Cup in India has started with a bang and on expected lines. Save for the surprise in the very first match of the tournament when the fancied current champions England were flattened by New Zealand, there are no further upsets witnessed even as the event moves ahead. As indications suggest so far, one might expect the narrative of the World Cup to unravel on expected lines. India, New Zealand, and Pakistan have won their first two matches quite convincingly. Though Team India eventually triumphed over Australia in Chennai, there were moments when things could have gone wrong. Despite restricting Australia to a paltry score, Team India was struggling with the loss of three top-order batsmen early in the innings.
PC: Timesnownews
- It could have got even worse when a sitter offered by Virat Kohli was grassed by Mitchell Marsh when Team India was struggling at the top of the order. From then on, it was a spectacular display of batsmanship from the duo of Kohli and KL Rahul. Rahul was assured, confident, and sublime in executing some of those pleasing drives and cuts. Of course, credit must go to the Indian bowlers led by increasingly menacing Jasprit Bumrah ably supported by the trio of spinners R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja was simply superb right through his quota of ten overs. His dismissal of the Australian talisman Steven Smith – bowled all ends up – may well qualify as the ball of the tournament. Kuldeep Yadav has been an improved bowler in the last two years.
- The induction of R Ashwin is a masterstroke, especially in the Indian conditions when the wickets tend to aid as the tournament reaches the business end. This is where spinners of the class of Indian trio will come into play making it extremely challenging for the opposition teams to score freely. Apart from Bumrah, Indian pacers like Mohammad Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Shardul Thakur make for a formidable attack. Inarguably, this Indian attack must rank as the best bowling unit having covered all the bases with extremely talented and proven performers. The battling lineup will be further bolstered when the in-form Shubhman Gill assumes full fitness following a bout of Dengue to open the innings in the later stage of the tournament.
PC: Timesnownews
- It’s a long tournament and the key to remaining a title contender is to peak at the right time. Rohit Sharma has hit a mesmerizing hundred against Afghanistan, Rahul and Kohli have scored 80s and 90s already. Ishan Kishan has had a decent outing against Afghanistan. Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya will come good with the bat during the course of the tournament. As such, without sounding too preposterous, Team India not only appears solid covering all the bases but also shaping up to be the team to beat. Yes, other teams will catch up with the race on the back of stupendous performances. Hopefully, Team India will stay the course by showcasing a spectacular and professional brand of cricket to bring home the coveted World Cup. Fingers crossed.
