- Atul Agarwal
With
four months remaining for the World Cup 2019, each of the ten cricket boards is
busy trying to figure out the perfect combination of fifteen odd men who’d be
flying to England for the grandest tournament of the cricketing arena. While
each team has some people who’ve almost booked a slot, there are others who’ve
been facing the axes muscly swung by their national selectors ahead of their
respective bilateral ODI series. Selection
of a team has never been more difficult before, with the onset of far too many
players emerging from the domestic T20 and One Day leagues.
While
there are ten teams contending for the coveted glory, cricket aficionados have
already declared their verdict that the two teams that should make it to the
finals are England and India. However, reality, like always, is far from the
truth. Despite being the co-favourites, the Indian selection board and the team
management have been having the toughest of times in picking their esteemed
warriors.
Let
us look at some of the internal factors troubling the case of the Indian
selectors.
1. The No. 4 Conundrum
There have been far too many discussions going on
around the country on who would perfectly fit in at No. 4, and every dialogue
gives rise to a wholly new name. Despite winning the overseas ODI series in
South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, none of the batsmen has made this slot
his very own. All of these victories have come with the backing of some
fantastic top order batsmanship or extraordinary bowling. It is high time the
team management stops experimenting with this position and makes MS Dhoni take
the No. 4 slot unswervingly till the World Cup. Dhoni has an average of 241
runs in 4 ODIs in 2019. He was indeed the difference between the two teams in
the tour of Australia and also the second ODI in New Zealand. He is someone who
can construct the innings early on and has the ability to strike at 140 towards
the death.
India’s foremost paleness right now is in power hammering
in the middle order, and it should be a no brainer to prefer Dinesh Karthik over
Ambati Rayudu. With Rayudu gone, Dhoni can bat at No. 4, followed by Karthik,
Kedar and Hardik/Jadeja who have the proficiencies to muscle the ball towards
the end. It is really difficult to comprehend why Rayudu is still being tried
after his departure from first class, losing team balance and control apart
from some ordinary fielding.
2. Search for an all-rounder
It is an eminent element that a player with
all-round skills has been an occasional commodity for Indian cricket. Ever
since Kapil Dev hung his boots, we’ve never had the honour of getting the
services of a flawless all-rounder. Though Hardik Pandya was brought in to the
Indian side to fill that gap, his contributions with both the bat and the ball
always have been found wanting. To add to the misery, his suspension from the
team following his controversial remarks on a popular talk show was like
rubbing salt to the wound. With the absence of an all-rounder, the Indian team
will have a tough time facing the dilemma as to whether to play an extra
batsman at the expense of a bowler or vice versa.
Now
let us look at some of the other teams who stand a great chance in competing
with the two favourites in the tournament.
1. Australia
The defending champions, though, currently not in
their best of forms, have always brought out their world class game in the
major ICC tournaments. They have quality fast bowlers in the form of Mitchel
Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, along with superior batsmen like Shaun
Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb. The arrival of David Warner and Steve
Smith will further strengthen their case.
2. New Zealand
With their captain Kane Williamson leading from the
front, the runners up of the 2015 World Cup have got the fire in their belly to
outsmart every other team in the world. They are known to punch two inches
above their notch. Their strong fast bowling unit with some serious pace and
swing, solid middle and lower order batting and athletic fielding will be grim
for any opponent to dodge.
3. Pakistan
They are like a wild card entry in every major
event. From losing to the least favoured team to defeating the tournament
favourites in the finals, they are a team that brings supreme level of
excitement to any contest. Their Champions Trophy victory in 2017, following triumphs
against both the favourites England and India in the semi finals and finals
respectively makes a very strong case for them.
Given
that the format in the 2019 World Cup is more like the 1992 World Cup that gives
more prominence to constancy than an irrational 2007 World Cup style where one
bad day could put you out of the cup, India and England should make it to the semi-finals. The other two could be from Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand. But
to win the World Cup for the third time, they will have to settle the internal
matters first before stepping on the ground and outplay the others clinically. Despite
having the top order batting, bowling set up and fielding sorted out, the team
management has to make the right call or the world cup trophy will not have any
trouble eluding them.
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