“Sometimes life brings you full circle to a place you have been before just to show you how much you have grown.”
As Misbah-ul-Haq’s fatal scoop off Joginder Sharma found its way into the safe hands of Sreesanth, way back in 2007, little would a cricket fan have realized that it was just the heralding of a new era in Indian sports- the era of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
A journey from a ticket collector to India’s most successful captain, at least in limited overs cricket, has been defined by a careless nonchalance for the conventions of the game, whereby he fearlessly paved a path to scale all summits.
The unbridled joy received as the Men in Blue stamped their authority under the reigns of Dhoni ensured that the man from Ranchi soon became the cynosure of all eyes in this cricket-obsessed nation.
But as is the cruel dictate of life, a pale of gloom soon overshadowed team India’s accomplishments, both at home and away, as they sank from one defeat to another. The man who could have done no wrong suddenly finds himself in the midst of an inconsistent form, as cries for his retirement increase with each passing day.
Despite dispelling all such rumors, MSD would be aware that the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in the comforts of the familiar pitches at home, offers him and his team the ideal opportunity to clinch their fourth World Championship crown, across all formats.
Blessed with an in-form team, the possibility of the dangerous India lifting the title on 3rd April lurks large and it would not be disappointing to state that even finishing second best would be disappointing, to say the least.
Personally for Mahi, a tournament which started his captaincy career, catapulting him into the hearts of a billion overnight, offers him yet another chance to win over the fickle minded Indians, who have been quick to disregard his sacrifices. Life, then, awaits to come full circle for MS Dhoni.
Can India actually go all the way?
Let us be realistic and focus on India’s strengths and weaknesses, instead of pondering over the threat presented by the other oppositions. On paper, the Indian team in itself looks settled and balanced, with the first choice players in prime form and an equally strong bench strength to boast of.
Back in the confines of their backyard, India’s form leading into the event has been impressive, to say the least, with a series whitewash of Australia in their own den, followed by their T20 series win at home against the Sri Lankans.
The upcoming Asia Cup, to be played in the shortest format, allows the participating teams the opportunity to fine tune their basics before the tournament gets underway on 15th March.
Although the probable eleven that will take the field versus New Zealand looks settled, India have the license and the liberty to tinker with their squad of 15, providing invaluable match practice to all its members during the Asia Cup.
A settled opening pair to thwart the opposition
Alarm bells had started ringing for maverick Shikhar Dhawan after a rather inconsistent 2015, where the Delhiite managed 745 runs in 20 One Day Internationals at an average of 37.25.
Despite having Ajinkya Rahane in their ranks, the team management persisted with Dhawan in the series against Australia, where he lived up to the expectations, scoring 287 runs in the 5 ODI matches.
He followed up his good form into the T20I matches as well, scoring 179 runs in the 6 games against Australia and Sri Lanka, at a staggering Strike Rate of 163.6, including a 25 ball 51 in the T20 game at Ranchi.
Rohit Sharma, who continues to be in the form of his life following his maiden T20I century against the Proteas last year, complements the aggressive left-hander, by playing the role of a sheet anchor with ease, and gaining momentum as the innings progresses.
The duo notched up a blazing partnership of 75 in just 7 overs in Ranchi, the first instance of an opening partnership in excess of 70 for India since 2009. With specific roles assigned to the batsman, it becomes imperative that Dhawan works on his weakness against the off-spinners bowling around the wicket to give India the initial momentum.
Virat Kohli
Undoubtedly the world’s most consistent number 3 batsman, Virat Kohli has been in stellar form in 2016, scoring 7 half centuries in 8 innings in Australia, before being given a well-deserved break for the 3 T20I against Sri Lanka.
The true hallmark of a great player is his performance in team victories, and Kohli’s contribution in that regard can not be overlooked. In 21 T20I wins, Kohli has averaged 65.76 with 9 half centuries. In the 6 matches that India has won chasing, the batsman has averaged a whopping 90.80, with 5 half centuries.
His T20 average of 50.62 in 31 innings is the highest among all batsmen with a minimum of 1000 runs in this format. Kohli’s importance to the Indian side can be summed by the fact that India lose seventy percent of their games every time the Test captain scores less than 20.
Along with the form of Dhawan and Rohit, Kohli’s purple patch in the lead-up to the World Cup lends stability to the Indian batting order, allowing the likes of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh to flourish later on.
A reliable middle order to back the Top 3
Even though the top 3 have been scoring the bulk of the runs, India’s middle order has the firepower to extinguish the game, if the need arises. Needing 17 runs in 6 balls, a terribly out of sorts Yuvraj Singh put all his experience to use, finishing off the game in style during the 3rd T20I against Australia.
Suresh Raina needs no introduction when it comes to T20s in India. One of the most successful players in the Indian Premier League, he averages 34.25 with over 3699 runs to his name at a strike rate of 140 for the Chennai Super Kings.
While turning out for the Men in Blue, Raina consistently ensures a strike rate of 140. Blessed with the ability to finish games under pressure, Raina’s importance can be gauged from the fact that India win ninety percent of their games whenever the left-hander scores in excess of 30.
With the experienced Yuvraj and Dhoni to follow, the Indian middle order has it in them to challenge the opposition in case of an early unexpected failure at the top. Even though Dhoni’s strike rate has fallen to 116 from 143 over the years, his batting heroics in Australia give a fair indication of what the man is capable of.
Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin can prove handy with the bat as well, but the Indians would hope that they are required to bamboozle the oppositions with their bowling exploits rather than taking on the bowlers themselves.
Ashwin and Jadeja- foxing the batsmen with their spin
One need not be a cricket aficionado to know how important Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been to the success of CSK in the IPL, where the pitches and the conditions provide ample support to the spin twins.
The offspinner from Chennai has an impressive economy of over 6 in 97 IPL matches that he has played in. Take into account a strike rate of 22.51, and the numbers tell their own story.
Ashwin’s T20I record stands equally impressive, with 42 wickets in 34 matches, at an average of 21.62 and an economy of just under 7. Ashwin’s variations through the air during the powerplay overs have accounted for 15 wickets, the third best wicket haul for any bowler bowling in the first 6 overs.
His partner in crime Jadeja’s knack of snapping wickets at important junctures with his slow left arm orthodox bowling makes him an asset during the middle overs. With a bowling strike rate of 26 and an economy of just over 7, Jadeja provides the perfect foil to Ashwin’s offspinners.
In the 18 T20I matches that they have played together in, the duo has accounted for 43 wickets and they remain Dhoni’s biggest trump cards going into to World Cup.
A fast bowling pair that inspires hope
India’s death over woes, especially after the disastrous performances in recent times, finally found an answer in Jasprit Bumrah. The right arm medium pacer, with a low arm action, has impressed with his accurate wrist position, especially at the death overs.
Dhoni introduced Bumrah in the end at Ranchi, and the Gujarati did not disappoint, picking up 2 wickets with an economy of under 6. His control over the yorkers, an area where India has perennially struggled in, to an extent, ensures that Mohammad Shami’s possible absence due to injury won’t be a matter of much concern.
He looked at ease in the 6 T20I that he has bowled in, claiming 9 wickets. Bumrah’s death over antics and veteran Ashish Nehra’s ability to strike during the powerplay overs (he has 9 wickets in the 30 powerplay overs bowled by him), instills in the Indian fan a rare sense of confidence in the fast bowling department.
An opportunity for Dhoni to silence his critics
Over the years, Dhoni has been the sole target of a major section of the Indian public, courtesy his diminishing prowess as a finisher in the side or the abysmal results that have been registered under his leadership.
Despite captaining the most successful IPL franchise CSK, Dhoni’s figures in the international arena as a captain portray a different picture altogether; just 3 wins out of the 10 T20I wins since 2011 at home tell their own story.
Add to that the failures at home against England, Pakistan and South Africa, including a shocking series loss to Bangladesh in the 50 over format, and Dhoni’s critics have ample reason to call for his head.
In the batting front as well, one has observed a gradual dip in the heroics from the man from Ranchi, observed most noticeably in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pune. When a calm and composed innings was required from Mahi after an early batting collapse, the Indian captain instead took on the bowlers, eventually gifting an easy wicket to the opposition.
However, this is the World Cup that we are talking about. Three ICC tournaments, along with a second place finish, with Dhoni at the helm, reveal their own tale. There is no denying that the world events get the best out of Dhoni, be it his shrewd captaincy or his innovative bowling changes.
Possibly playing his last ICC tournament (but then with Dhoni, you never really know), expect the last hurrah from a man who has experienced all the possible emotions from the Indian fan, in what has been a roller coaster ride.
In all fairness and without any disrespect to any opposition, anticipate India to take the field at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the night of 3rd April, unless the script goes horribly awry.
This is India’s Cup to be lost. Let them go all out for glory.
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