India have been as impressive as Sri Lanka in the first round of the ICC World T20 tournament. They have won both their games with relative ease though the Lankans may have been a touch worried at the spirited reply by the West Indies chasing their total.

The other impressive performance has been from the South Africans who defended a smallish total against New Zealand with some superb pace bowling and even better fielding. This tournament has no favorites since the game can turn on its head in a matter of deliveries and so it’s hard to predict who will go till the end.

What is noticeable is that the team that fields well is more likely to win than the one that takes it easily. The West Indies are big culprits in the loose fielding category and their catching in this tournament has been abysmal to say the least. Their throwing and ground fielding too looks pretty amateurish when compared with minnows like Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands who throw themselves at every ball and thus give their inexperienced bowlers a bit of an edge which may not be there from the skill point.

India too have stepped up their fielding efforts and that is heartening. They have in the younger lot some truly outstanding fielders who bring the crowd to their feet with their quicksilver tries.

India have also used the spinners well and in Harbhajan and Ojha they have a top class spin combination. Zaheer’s return to wicket taking will also ease the burden on Dhoni who would have been a touch worried after the first game against Bangladesh but then Zaheer has always liked a bit of bowling under his belt before striking his rhythm.

Ishant Sharma was also hostile on a pitch where there was something for the seam bowlers. India will need both the new-ball bowlers to bowl well to the West Indies skipper Chris Gayle because as we saw against the Australians he can take the game away from the opposition in a matter of overs.

It is important to finish on top in their group for India so the first game against West Indies becomes a crucial one as there is every possibility that the last game of the Super 8 stage against South Africa will in all probability decide who is the No.1 team in that group.

The Sri Lankans have been terrific and the alertness that their fielders have shown while collecting the high hits near the fence is an indication of highly motivated and fiercely committed team. Every game in this stage will be important and all teams will be striving every sinew to get in the final four.