Champions Trophy: An Uphill task

CT kaise jeetenege? Play to your potential & Hope opposition plays badly...

Another big cricketing extravaganza is at the brink and the cricket crazy nation is all set for it. Team India will try to settle its scores with many contemporaries, the big question still remains - can they do it ??!!

As usual, team India looks solid and one of the front runners for the coveted trophy. Even with the likes of Sehwag and Zaheer missing, the team looks formidable on paper. The likes of Yuvraj, Gambhir, MSD and Bhajji always make it to the top of match winners list, the return of Tendulkar and Dravid provides a perfect foil to the batting mainstay. The bowling comprises of two Delhi speedsters –Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma that forms a lethal combination of pace and swing, the duo can work wonders in bowling friendly conditions. And the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina and RP Singh are simply cherry on the cake. Sounds like an unbeatable team right?

Well, the answer is Yes and No.

Kick start Issues

The team has starting trouble and if things go wrong initially, the team which sometimes seems like an unbreakable fortress falls like a pack of cards. The team often collapses in batting department once top order fails and the entire line up looks like a mediocre team trying to avoid relegation from the league. The fitness and fielding problems only add to the list of woes and worries.

Fitness & Form

The biggest setback is the fitness problems with which Sehwag and Zaheer are out and the likes of Gambhir and Virat Kohli are under controversy. The form of Yuvraj, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajanand MSD himself is like quicksilver. On their day, they would steal the victory from any team in the world, and on opposite, they would succumb to even an inexperienced attack. Time and again, bowlers like Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Matthews, Henry Olonga have proved it. Similar is the case with Ishant Sharma, who is whacked for runs on placid pitches and seems unplayable on bowling friendly wickets. Praveen Kumar’s bowling also seems toothless if not in form.

History aint flattering!

Further India has its own history against teams like New Zealand and West Indies where India has rarely been able to beat them convincingly. The teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan always have the element of uncertainty with them and can rise at any point of time. Australians on the other side are wounded tigers and the South Africans are equally dangerous if not more. Kangaroos would want to restore their pride and the Proteas would be keen to shed their “chokers” tag. Pakistan has openly declared War to improve their performance against India in major tournaments. Being placed in league group with Australia and Pakistan only adds to India’s troubles.

ICC-Champions-Trophy-2009

Who will bail India out in this situation? The answer to India’s problems lies in the name –Rahul Dravid. India’s unsung Hero is back with a bang and provides the anchor for the team to build on. Rahul Dravid has been most flexible player for the team trying to fit in team’s needs and sacrificing his own credits. (He may even open the bowling innings for India with medium pace if needed!! You never know!) Tendulkar at the top with Gambhir looks solid and middle order revolves around Yuvraj, Dravid and Raina. Much depends on Yuvraj, and if he fires India is most certain to sail through. Yusuf Pathan and MSD are there to finish the innings.

Bowling revolves around Harbhajan with other bowlers to support him. Even if India’s worries keep on growing, we know MSD has this knack of pulling out rabbit from the Hat. Nobody would have thought Joginder Sharma would win the T20 world cup for India with his toothless bowling. Time and again MSD has land mines planted for the opposition and 6 out of 10, the opposition fells for it. As an Indian Cricket Fan, the one thing I would die to see is Dhoni getting back to his old batting ways. Then again, I would like to see rookie players like Abhishek Nayar and Amit Mishra in action who have loads of talent and just need a chance to unfold it.

So whatever the stats say, cricket fever will not die down for a month at least and my favorites to win would be India hands down. So Common India-Show the world what Champions are made of!!

Go India Go!!!