India pad up for their first game of the World Cup against Bangladesh with the hopes of a cricket-crazy nation riding on their shoulders. The ICC cricket World Cup has got off to an expected start, with the major teams winning quite easily, but Zimbabwe had a shock when Ireland showed great fighting qualities to stay in the game when defeat looked inevitable, and ended up tying the match.
India will be looking to get off to a victorious start and a big winning start at that. At this level, and with a strong Sri Lankan side in their group, India have to win big to put a frown on the faces of the Lankans and try and get a psychological advantage going into that game. There is of course Bermuda before that, but a win against a Test nation like Bangladesh will be just the boost the team needs.
The two matches against Bangladesh and Bermuda are also the games wherein the Indian team can look to give their out-of-form players like Sehwag and Pathan a chance to come good and get back their confidence. It’s so much a confidence game, this cricket, and if Sehwag is able to get a big score and Pathan is able to recapture his rhythm, then India will be stronger as they move into the next stage of the championships.
The Indians are a bit spoiled for choice in the opening batting slots, and with Sehwag having not got runs in the two warm-up games that India played, it might be better to have him come at three when the ball will not be moving as much as it does in the first half dozen overs or so. There is also Dhoni, who can be the floater that the team requires depending on the kind of start the openers have given. Ganguly has to open because he is a left-hander, and the left- right combo is a must in limited-overs games. Tendulkar will be keen to extend the gap with Ponting in the century stakes, and Dravid is batting superbly, which may mean that the likes of Yuvraj and Dhoni may not get to bat till the later stages of the tournament. The batting is not a worry at all, but the bowling line-up will give the team’s think-tank something to think about.
Ideally, the spinner’s choice between Harbhajan and Kumble should depend on the opposition. If the opponents have too many lefties in the batting line-up, then it makes sense to have the offie playing, but otherwise Kumble could play a big role in restricting the score and polishing off the tail. The new ball pair will also have to be rotated to ensure that all the quicks are match-fit and match-confident as well. Sreesanth has the rare ability to get wickets at the top, and Munaf is bowling well, so that’s a big plus. Agarkar has loads of experience, and Zaheer has come along brilliantly since his return to the side. So, the only question mark is against Pathan, and if that is answered well in this group stage, then India will proceed with great confidence in the tournament.
Well begun is half done, and that’s what India need to do by beating Bangladesh comfortably in their first game in this World Cup.
