Indians yet to take-off in Cup

Congratulations to Dhoni and team on qualifying for the quarterfinals! But does it warrant celebrations? 

Well, it wouldn’t because the team hasn’t done anything yet in the league matches to claim that they are favourites to win the Cup. 

The only match that India could manage to win comfortably was the one against Bangladesh — thanks to Sehwag’s fireworks, which can be expected only on rare occasions. Otherwise, it was a struggle, including the matches against minnows. The bowling shortcomings were there for everyone to see in the match against England, where the team couldn’t defend a big total. 

The funny part has been that the bowlers were not able create magic in their home country. Otherwise, they would have blamed it on foreign conditions. And cracks in the batting line-up were observed in the matches against South Africa and the West Indies. The only saving grace was that the top order has been able to build the innings at a reasonably good run-rate. 

Yuvraj has been terrific in the middle order. Dhoni, Pathan and Raina have failed to do their job. They seem to have forgotten that playing 50 overs would give them decent totals and were dismissed like amateurs instead. I wonder if these players understand that belligerence wouldn’t work on every pitch. 

This World Cup has seen high scores being chased as well as low scores being defended. Adjusting to the need of the hour is the key. For how long can we ride on the 1983 victory?
May the prayers of a billion people save India in the rest of the tournament and enable them to lift the Cup. 

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