By Maj Gen PK Mallick, VSM (Retd)
India has won all matches comprehensively till the finals. Only one match at Ahmedabad remains to be the ODI World Cup Champion. All guns are firing in full cylinder. India is outright favorites. No question. Let’s talk about some chinks in the Indian armour. No negativity.
There is a little bit of obstinacy in Rahul Dravid as a coach. Was Rohit Sharma part of the plan to keep Shami out of the team in the first four matches? Since then the pyrotechnics of Md Shami with 23 wickets has cleared all doubts who is India’s premier fast bowler. Siraj being picked ahead of Shami in every match! If India has to go with two fast bowlers, Shami does not have a place. They talk about team balance. Come to think about it, if Pandya was not injured Shami would not have played!
Opponents know the danger of Bumrah. They will give him respect in his first spell. Bumrah went for 64 runs for a solitary wicket. They target Siraj. Every time he has leaked runs in that case. Looks clueless spray balls in the leg side for easy pickings. Today Siraj conceded 78 runs in nine overs when three overs were in the last over and big hitters have left.
India has only five front line bowlers. No back-up. You have seen Bumrah in the semifinals at a later stage going off the field for treatment. Though commentators did not say anything. If any of the five bowlers get injured or get a pasting what is India’s option? Plan B/C/D?
If not many wickets fall, one of the spinners will be targeted. Against the sweeping including reserve sweeping Indian spinners looked lost. No plan ‘B’ there. We have not been able to sort out Daryl Mitchell. Big, tall, powerful hitter took Indian attack to cleaners in both the matches against Indian, scoring centuries at a very healthy rate. Both Australia and South Africa have powerful hitters. If one or two clicks we are in trouble. Remember Ponting’s knock at the World Cup finals against Ganguli’s all-conquering team.
There were 19 wides conceded by India. Spinner Jadeja bowled a no ball. Jadeja leaked 63 runs without a wicket. With only two batsmen firing New Zealand still scored 327 runs at 6.7 runs per over.
One must remember in our recent overseas tours of England, Australia, South Africa in test matches our same bowlers were not able to defend good totals in fourth innings of a test match. One has to be careful.
In spite of all the heroics of the Aiyer, Rahul, SKY either Rohit or Kohli have to be there till the very late. Do you think India middle order has the bandwidth to carry forward in the absence of these two legends?
They may well do it. They have the talent, experience to do it. But they have to raise their hand and perform in the absence of Rohit and Kohli. Remember Rohit scored five centuries in the last world cup. Then the law of arrangements caught up. In the most crucial semifinals those five centuries did not help.
Yesterday every batsman clicked. Rohit’s blast of 47 in 29 balls with four sixes. Subhman Gill’s sublime 79 in 65 balls, King Kohli’s workman like an efficient 117 in 113 balls, Aiyer’s explosive 105 in 70 balls with eight sixes and not to forget Rahul’s pyrotechnics of 39 in 20 balls in the last few overs.
This batting display does not happen every day. In spite of 397 on the board when Mitchell and that old fox Willamson were in the middle, India came under pressure. Catches were dropped. Unnecessary overthrows even from the gun fielder Jadeja, misfields happened. Shoulders dropped.
Once again it was Shami who came to the rescue. And the Coach and Captain said earlier, for the balance of the team Shami could not be played!
One Prays for
Ø No injury to five bowlers
Ø Siraj does not lose the plot and leak runs.
Ø One of the spinners does not get hit.
Ø Between the two, at least one, Rohit or Virat stay till the end.
Ø Most importantly get rid of immense pressure.
Last, all that they are doing, if they do it again, the world cup is ours.
Wishing Team India all the very best.
The author is an Indian Army Veteran.
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