Kapil Dev is still feted as a national hero for guiding India to its only World Cup triumph 28 years ago, when his lineup stopped the all-conquering West Indies in the final at Lord’s.
The international cricket landscape has changed dramatically since then, with India now the commercial powerbase of the sport and the nation of almost 1.2 billion people expecting its team to win a World Cup in the subcontinent.
Though Dhoni says pressure is no great concern, he knows it is not going to be anything like the World Twenty20 championship triumph in South Africa four years ago, when he led a young and unfancied team to victory in the first edition of the T20 event just months after India’s early and inglorious exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean.
A batting lineup containing Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni would command respect from any opposition. Add the dependable Gautam Gambhir, the in-form Yusuf Pathan and Virat Kohli to the mix, and it’s an even more potent batting order.
“The Indian team for the World Cup is the strongest batting lineup we have ever seen in world cricket,” Kapil Dev said.
Pathan and Kohli were among the runs in a recent 3-2 limited-overs series loss in South Africa, where India’s top order was depleted.
Pathan scored 166 runs in three matches including a century in the last match, while Kohli amassed 193 from five innings including an unbeaten 87 in the second match.
Sehwag (shoulder), Gambhir (hand) and Tendulkar (hamstring) missed all or part of the series in South Africa because of injuries, but are all fit now and considered certainties to take their places at the World Cup.
Dhoni would prefer his squad to be considered underdogs than favorites, but he’s confident the squad has learned from its letdown in the Caribbean four years ago and there won’t be any complacency at home.
“If any side thinks the other sides can’t win, that is the biggest mistake,” he said. “All the top sides in the world have a chance of winning the World Cup and it’s just about playing consistent cricket.” Dhoni and his squad will get their first chance to redeem one of their worst World Cup memories from 2007 when they take on Bangladesh in the opening match of the 2011 tournament at Dhaka on Feb. 19.
India went into the last World Cup high on confidence after reaching the final in 2003 but cracks emerged quickly with concern over the team’s preparation and cohesion.
Tension only increased after a shocking five-wicket loss to Bangladesh in its opening match.
That left India needing to beat Sri Lanka just to advance to the Super Eight stage from the four-team group. But the Sri Lankans scored a decisive win over India en route to the final, where they lost to Australia.
For India, high-scoring matches should not be a worry in familiar home conditions this time.
Apart from Tendulkar, who is aiming to cap his magnificent career with an elusive World Cup title, the Delhi pair of Sehwag and Gambhir complete a formidable top three.
“Sehwag and Gambhir have been very important players for India and will have a huge role to play in the World Cup,” says test batsman VVS Laxman. “I think the team has the potential to lift the cup and recapture the glory of 1983.” Dev is also tipping India to win back the title, despite his concerns over the strength of the bowling attack.
“It looks a balanced team though the bowling is a bit weak,” Dev said of an attack led by left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan.
Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Shantakumaran Sreesanth — a late replacement for injured Praveen Kumar — are the other seam options for India, while off-spinners Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin are slow-bowling options along with leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
“Our fast bowling department is confident of the challenge,” the 28-year-old Sreesanth said. “Our team is a perfect mix of talent and experience this time.” While the pitch and weather conditions are expected to favor the Indian team, the ICC’s choice of Kookaburra ball for the tournament is less than ideal for the co-hosts.
India usually uses the locally produced SG balls when it hosts series, so it is expected to take time to adjust to the variations in swing and movement in the air.
