Wherever cricket is there nowadays the talk is mostly around the new wave - Twenty20. Looks like my blog has also caught this syndrome. First the IPL now World Twenty20.What i think about Twenty20 as a format i would discuss in some other post. I would confine this one to this tournament.
Its a nice tournament started by ICC two years ago. What i don't feel right about this tournament is that it is held every 2 years. Every world cup should be held with a gap of 4 years, this is the norm everywhere and i think should be followed in cricket T20 world cup also. Tournaments like Champions Trophy, sometimes called as mini world cup are held every 2 years. So if a tournament is held every 2 years it somewhere dilutes the effectiveness and the prestige associated with it.
So much has changed in the last 2 years. This tournament is bigger than the last one because everywhere T20 fever has caught up. Last time India were the underdogs as they were playing without their star players (Sachin, Saurav and Rahul). But still they came back as champs. An extraordinary performance by a young and talented Indian side. Talented, not great.
Can this time India do it again. According to me India is the favorite to win the world cup...Why?...for a multitude of reasons. First of all the batting which India possess right now is the most dangerous in the world. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir both are out of form but i have a feeling they will come back to their own self when they come on to the big stage. Can this time the miracle be repeated? Well if India wins this time it won't be a miracle it would be an expected event. 2 years can change a lot of things.
South Africa...Graeme Smith's captaincy can never be underestimated. RSA has an excellent batting line up which boasts of Smith, Gibbs, DeVilliers, Duminy, Boucher. People would say Smith is not in form. Don't worry...he will come in form as soon as this tournament starts...He likes playing it when his team is under pressure. This aspect of his character makes him all the more charismatic. Watch out for this team. They are not the chokers of old, they are braveheart of new world order, in which Australia is not the only dominating team, this team has been instrumental(apart from India) in tilting the balance of power away from the Aussies.
Australia...it doesn't matter that all their star players of previous great generation have retired (except Ponting)...No matter how much balance of power shifts...this team cannot be ranked below 3rd...Even in a worst case scenario they are one of the favorites to win this tournament. But still according to me they just lack that extra bit of power needed to go that extra mile which is required in such big tournaments. They are a strong team but need a few things to go in their favor to win the trophy.
Pakistan...This unpredictable team has got a liking for T20 format. Honestly speaking their style is suited to this format. Just come and hit it, no restrictions. They haven't had much international cricket for a long period of time. Recent events have not been good especially the one in which they were removed as one of the co hosts of the world cup. So they would come out with a point to prove that they are still a force to reckon with in the international arena. And when Pakistan plays with a focused mind towards a goal they become all the more dangerous.
New Zealand has got the ability to do it. This team also likes T20 format. This team doesn't have any stars but it has got the players to pull it off. Talented youngsters like Taylor, Ryder, Broom, Guptill would be anxious to go out there and perform. Lets see can this team become the unexpected champion.
I am not writing about teams like England, West Indies and rest because i don't think they have got much of a chance. The only chance they have got is if other teams gift their matches to them with their very own hands. These teams are far too inconsistent to win such a tournament. I would bet on them on pulling off one upset here and there but winning the tournament is stretching it far too much.
Lets hope this tournament becomes a larger success than the previous installment of 2007.
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Finally After 20 months India and Pakistan met again on the Mecca of cricket (lords) for yet another and the most awaited encounter to live up to the expectation of its fans. In fact the most awaited match for me and for all the fans of the two nations. This one is for the glory Even this one was a warm up but the intensity was on a high and so this had to be a tight one .Pakistan started heavily on Indian bowlers with some smashing drives from Akmal n his boys. The scorecard soon was flooded with runs. But thanks to Ishant Sharma who with his brilliant spell put breaks on runs. Later on Yusuf and Misbah provided the much momentum needed to make them reach to a fighting 158.but I believe this was never on cards. In fact what India need to learn here from is the tight spells needed at the depth which was not the case.RP Singh n others went for 15-16 runs at the depth n that too at the hands of tail enders
ReplyDelete>>>>well the Indian reply was most awaited for me .I am one of the most sensitive fans of my team.Gautam with the jersey No.45 boy of whom I have been a critic N perhaps in past would have never included in my 11 opened up. The Next 90 Minutes were a terrific one .it was honestly a play of professionalism. The spirit was great and what not. But the jersey N0.45 boy made me change my mind. Yes his short selection, his backing up, his running between the wickets. his ability to take calculated risk questioned my faith n I started to ask myself whether I am forcing myself to be a big fan of this boy. I don’t know but in a way I was wrong in past .he has the talent. He’s match winner. the knock of 80 was a superb one as cool as cucumber and the innings worth remembering but does that suggest that India have got ” Rab ne bana di jodi –part II”.well I don’t know it’s up to the management n u guys to decided n comment on this one. But I suppose it’s better to have some options than to have none. The recent Dhoni-Sehwag conflict talks in dressing room are just a bullshit created by media. But Yes Mr. Rohit Sharma it’s time for you to smile bcoz you have got another Crazy fan and if u dont want to lose this fan keep up in future too.
Well said. India-Pak match really did had the intensity of a big match, although it was just a warm-up game. I still think that Gautam Ghambir and Virender Sehwag should open the innings. Rohit Sharma is not an all out hitter, he likes to get his eye in and then go for it. And of course in case the top order fails there should be someone in the middle order to provide the stability and i think Rohit Sharma has the technique and temperament for it. Virender Sehwag's ability at the top needs no discussion, he has been a force to reckon with for years.
ReplyDeleteWell, these are the young players who will be stars of tomorrow, greats of next generation. But i still don't feel that much connected to them as i do with Sachin, Sourav and Rahul. Well, thats a different topic. India has made a good start and should capitalize on it and bring back the world cup once again...