More action awaits

The next phase of the T20 world cup has started with very less number of shocking exits. To many Bangladesh’s exit is too shocking than Australia’s. The way Aussies have played made them a deserved candidate for the elimination. They have been outplayed in both of their matches and no one would ever see them as vulnerable as they are now. And in the other group, Bangladesh who played upto their potential against their Asian rivals India seemed to miss the plot against Ireland and were thrown out of the tournament. In the other groups expected teams(Scotland and Netherland) were made their exit and made Super 8 into an exciting one.

So now the teams are again splitted into 2 groups: Group E(India, England, West Indies and South Africa) and Group F(Pakistan, Srilanka, Ireland and New Zealand). So to qualify each team must win atleast 2 matches and the competition seems to be tougher in Group E as there were no minnows. Each team was capable of beating every other team on their day. But with the exposure and team balance in T20, India and South Africa were seemed to go to Semi-finals. West Indies hopes are lies with Chris Gayle. If he fires, then they can win. There are times even if he fires, they will let down by their extra-‘ordinary’ bowling. So it’s like one man show. As far as England was concerned, they have a decent team and they have to put collective performance. Nobody in their team were seemed to be a match winner, who can take the game away from opposition single-handedly. But for India and South Africa they are in plenty, so both England and West Indies must play well to go to semis.

In the other group, the bigger teams can breathe easier as they have Ireland in their group. It will be tough fight between Pakistan, Srilanka and New Zealand. But having the kind of players readily suited for this T20 format, New Zealand seems to be favorite to move to semis easily. Srilanka too playing very well with their top order was firing and their bowling seems to be tighter than other teams. So they can make the semis by playing to their potential. But the most unpredictable of all the teams, Pakistan is in this group. They have match winners. But they don’t know what is meant by collective effort means and they are wasting Misbah by making him play in No.6 and No.7. If they really want to go to Semis they must plan purposefully and should stick by it. Ireland…. If they make semis, then that will be biggest happening in this tournament. Nothing to mention more.

It’s time to enjoy more quality matches. Stay tuned.

Nice way to take off

India kickstarted their campaign to defend their title in a perfect note, beating Bangladesh comfortably. Though it looked like comfortable, some individual brilliance of Yuvraj Singh and Ojha is required to script this win. Dhoni won the toss and continued the trend of last WC by choosing to set a target. In the absence of Sehwag, Rohit opened the innings along with Gambhir both started well and raced away to 50 but after the Rohit’s wicket the run rate started to dip as both Dhoni and Gambhir were never in a mood to accelerate. So it’s a boon when they both got out by 14^th and 16^th over. Bangladesh slow bowlers done well in keeping them quiet… no no.. very quiet. Then came Yurvaj, effortlessly hitting sixes at will and took the game away from Bangladesh. He killed their bowlers with some great hitting. With Irfan hitting a six and four in the last over means that India reaching a par total of 180 on that pitch.

Bangladesh started off well with taking on both Zaheer and Irfan to cleaners and seemed to be racing away. Especially Siddique was doing more damage. Tamim Iqbal and Mohammed Ashraful fell cheaply but didn’t wasted balls. But in came Ojha took 2 important wickets in his first over scalping both dangerous Shakib-ul-hasan and Siddique. And that’s the curtains for Bangladesh as there are no players who can score at the required rate and they ended up at 155. Ojha got 4 wickets for his clever bowling and Yuvraj took a brilliant forward diving catch while the dismissal of Mahmaddullah.

It’s still a puzzle why Dhoni coming in at No.3 and halting the momentum. He has done the same with CSK. He has Raina in his team who is in good form but he promotes himself up and halts the momentum. Its better if he comes down the order and allows explosive players like Raina and Yuvraj to play more overs. Maybe he thinks about right-left combination much. But it will bring no good if there is no hint of aggressiveness.

Will India do it again???

Again the T20 world cup is back, and for the first time I am seeing India going into the cricket’s one of the biggest tournaments as defending champions. Last time no one expected them to lift the cup and they surprised themselves and the whole world. But this time they can’t surprise anyone as they have one of the strongest team for this format with all of them being match winners and termed as favorites to lift the cup again. Others were also not behind with South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan was breathing down the India’s neck to grab the cup from India. Let me see what makes India favorites and what not.

Strengths:

• Strongest batting line-up with big hitters from No.1 to No.7.
• Nice combination of pace, spin and part-time bowlers with lot of variety.
• Very young side with lot of energy. Most of them were brilliant fielders.
• Dhoni’s intuitive and cool leadership.

Weaknesses:

• All the players were coming after a Long and demanding IPL.
• If Dhoni unfortunately injures means, no reserve wicket-keeper and leader of his quality.
• No perfect all-rounder who can be relied upon.
• Injury to Zaheer and Sehwag.
• Drift between Sehwag and Dhoni.

Key Players:

• Rohit has hit the form at the right time and he was pacing his innings well now.
• Raina too was in great form who can take on any attack and tear it apart.
• Ojha will be man to look out for. He is spinning the ball a lot and very cleverly flighting and varying his pace. The good thing he knows how to fox a set batsmen a real quality of agood spinner.
• As always Yuvraj, not in the best of the form but still India’s trump card in middle overs. His sheer power will take the ball not beyond the ropes but beyond the stadium.
• Zaheer khan and Ishant sharma: Best pace duo any team want to have.

All I am hoping is, India has the strongest team and must retain the cup. As a cricket fan I am hoping for this tournament having lot of interesting matches. All the best to India :)