Go up a notch
Team India needs to plug some gaps if it is to lift the ODI World Cup.India became the second team to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing ODI cricket World Cup after defeating Bangladesh by 28 runs. This takes the Men in Blue to a total of 13 points in the tournament, just one behind Australia who are table toppers at the moment. The Indian campaign so far can be best described as sufficient. Barring a loss against hosts England, the team has played the conditions well. But as the business end of the tournament approaches, Virat Kohli and his boys will do well to plug the gaps.
Ironically, it’s India’s famed batting that is showing some infirmities. Although these didn’t completely scuttle the team in the round-robin stage, they could spell trouble for the Men in Blue in the semis or the final. Following opener Shikhar Dhawan’s pull-out from the tournament due to injury, the batting line up has been unsettled. The No 4 spot has been a source of worry notwithstanding Rishabh Pant’s promising 48 against Bangladesh. In fact, the batting seems dependent on just two players – Rohit Sharma and skipper Kohli. While Sharma has been having a great tournament and has scored four centuries, Kohli has five 50-plus scores so far.
However, if these two have a bad day, it’s unclear which of the other batsmen can bail India out. Veteran MS Dhoni has been India’s lifeguard for many years. But with age no longer on his side, he has failed to get going in this World Cup and has been criticised for wasting too many balls at the wrong time. True, Dhoni still brings a lot of experience and cricketing wisdom to the team. But it’s worth asking if he is blocking a spot for a more dynamic batsman.
Thankfully, India’s fielding and bowling have been on point. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been the go-to man and has helped India choke the opposition at crucial stages of games. He has also been ably complemented by fellow pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Hardik Pandya too has been a handy all-rounder, accelerating the batting score when required and breaking opposition partnerships with the ball at important junctures. But Team India still needs to take it up a notch if it’s to go all the way. And with a possible semifinal rematch with England looming, the Men in Blue need to get their combinations right.
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