In a nation that goes berserk at the name of ‘cricket’, this sport, indeed, is no less than a religion. In hindsight, probably the only ‘religion’ that does not spark off any contentious issue and unites a billion souls for a change. To talk of tradition and history, cricket has always been at the pinnacle of all sports, and has cut a niche in the core of our hearts, particularly in the subcontinent. In the earlier eras, glories or achievements came far and few, if I were to be honest with how our national cricket team fared in the international circuit. However, little did it dent the love and passion people in India possess with respect to cricket as a medium of entertainment, emotion and jubilance.
The highlight, or the cynosure of all eyes has always been on the ICC Cricket World Cup, considered unanimously as ‘The’ mega event of this sport. India, with a rich culture and cricketing fraternity, have over the years pinned their hopes on the senior cricket team to deliver where it matters most. Such high expectations come at the back of serious talent and pedigree that is characteristic of the Indian cricket team, and the public keeps no stone unturned in following their respective rituals or so called superstitions in calling out good omen throughout the course of the ICC event. The hype and craze surrounding the occasion is second to none, for the ardent followers are firm believers in our men’s potential to leave a mark, especially in today’s day and age.
India, thus far, have come out triumphant twice in World Cups, first in 1983 in England and the other 28years later on home soil. It was quite a story in ’83, really. Kapil Dev, the then prolific all-rounder, led his side to a highly unlikely victory, that too beating the mighty Windies in the final. In ’11 though, the onset was tad different as India went into the Cup as favourites and responded emphatically to the tag. This rounded off our Master’s career as well, in what was nullifying the only glitch that had been steadfast not to make way. Fast forward to 2019, and here we are, days away from the 10th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, to be hosted by England and Wales. Hailed by many a pundit as the favourites to clinch the title, let’s have a look into the squad we shall bank on this time around, and where it stands leading up to the marquee event.
Squad (in seniority order) :
Virat Kohli (c), Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Kedar Jadhav, Jasprit Bumrah, Lokesh Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar.
Batsmen :
India rests heavily on the top order so far as the batting department is concerned, and they have every reason to do so. Ever since the last World Cup, the top three have contributed to bulk of the scoring in this format, with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan,Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli setting the benchmark for others to follow. Kohli, in particular, has been in rampaging touch, and our batting order revolves around this talisman, now more so than ever. His statistics in the limited overs format of the game is enough reflection of the mettle he his, but for ones who understand the sport would relate to the fact that he’s so much more than just the numbers he has stacked up. The wide range of repertoire, and sheer hunger to succeed is what makes this man class apart. Rohit and Shikhar too have been consistent in piling up the runs, and Rohit specially is adept in converting the starts into daddy hundreds. If these three get going, one thing stands rest assured, we’re in for some run fests this summer as the white ball cricket takes centre stage!
Coming to the middle order, that’s where our ‘Achilles Heel’ lies. With MS not in the best of forms in the blue jersey, at least by his standards, the concern has escalated. We’re yet to have a stable number 4, and going into the World Cup, the team management is spoilt for choices in whom to back at this position. Plenty of options have been tested at 4, but no one has exuded a sense of reliability barring a knock or two. As it stands, it looks like KL is in the forefront to start, but no ruling out rookie Shankar or even a Jadhav for that matter, depending on what the team combination is. Dhoni is set to come in at his preferred position of number 5, unless otherwise, and India would count on him to bring all his experience to the fore and guide the batters around him come adversity. At 6, Kedar has done reasonably well and he forms a somewhat rugged duo with MS, as he seems to feed off the great man’s calmness especially when it comes to chasing. It is to be noted that in seaming conditions, Shankar may get the nod ahead of Jadhav at times, just to bolster the medium pace battery and provide an ally to our first change, Hardik Pandya.
The lower middle order looks firm, with Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja being trusted with the responsibility of providing impetus to run-scoring and press on the accelerator. Pandya, off late, has been hitting the ball with much prowess, and it remains to be seen whether he comes of age this World Cup. A lot would depend on this all-rounder duo, as they provide us with the three facets of the game and are worth producing game changing moments out of the blue. Whether or not they’ll produce the goods while finishing off close matches chasing, time will tell but at least they’ve the potential to do so, particularly Hardik.
Bowlers :
In what might sound astonishing, this Indian side is better balanced when it comes to the bowling department, as compared to that of batting. We’ve got all bases covered, and what’s more pleasing is the fact that our bowlers are in their prime, both with respect to age as well as form. The pace battery of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and comeback man Mohammad Shami look lethal, and are out and out wicket taking options both with the new and old ball. Bumrah has evolved into one of the greats of the game at present, with his acute cricketing sense blending superbly with the raw talent up his sleeve. He is India’s go-to man with the new ball upfront and at the death as well, where he is in a league of his own churning out exquisite performances match in match out amidst pressure. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ought to prove more than handy in English conditions, and although he might just lose out to Shami in the race for the second seamer’s slot, you never know what beckons. Given an overcast scenario, Bhuvi is an automatic choice for he has the requisite traits to shine in such conditions. You add Hardik to this group, and we have a settled fast bowling line up with Shankar chipping in as and when required.
The spin department led by the wrist spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will have a pivotal role to play this summer, and with the pitches drying out as the tournament goes on, they’ll be our trump cards for sure. Chahal and Kuldeep, in tandem, hold key in providing breakthroughs in the mid stages and they’ve been able to execute their plans to perfection ever since they’ve been a part of this setup. Yes, it is for a fact that they’re low in experience, and haven’t really participated in any major tournament as yet, but that’s where the experience of Jadeja comes in, who should guide these youngsters in gutsing out the odds. It remains to be seen what combination the team management opts for, in whether they’ll unleash the two wristies together in the XI or take the route of Jadeja instead as a finger spinner all rounder. The spinners, undoubtedly, are a vital cog in the wheel for this squad, and much will depend on how they fare against quality oppositions.
So overall, looking into the strengths and weaknesses of this Indian team that boards the flight to London in a couple of days time, it’s a no-brainer really to realise that the playing XI will revolve around the magnificence of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, the two standouts in this format. The team, more so the spinners, would fall back on MS Dhoni for subtle suggestions and inputs and for someone of the stature of Dhoni who has been there, done that, he’d do well to shed some experience on the exuberant youth he’d rub shoulders with. The onus will be on the top order to deliver with the bat more often than not, and if the middle order conundrum gets sorted, then boy, are we a force to reckon with or what! We start favourites alongside hosts England, and as the fixtures get underway in due course, we’re certainly in the running for our 3rd title. Here’s to wishing Virat Kohli and his men good luck for the coming event, and here’s to seeing our captain charismatic lifting the World Cup trophy on the historic Lord’s balcony, come July 14th.
– Poulam Bhattacharya
The Sport Catalogue 