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India emerge as raging favourites for World Cup. But are they peaking too early? – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)
India and Australia have parallel thinking before a World Cup in that they utilise a similar strategy to work out potentially dangerous opponents by placing a series between them before the real event. We have seen this time and time again. And this edition of the World Cup in India sees two definite contenders go head to head with this in mind before the World Cup proper.
The cat and mouse strategy is meant to fine tune the strengths and weaknesses between the squads with the ultimate aim to outhink their opponents in the decider if they meet.
Both teams loom large to take out this edition. But write off Pakistan, England, New Zealand and South Africa at your peril.
India take momentum and home ground conditions in their favour. A crushing Asia Cup demolition job on Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, and now a convincing thrashing of the Aussies in a three match series makes an ominous sign of a rolling juggernaut that will be hard to stop.
The Australian rout was without Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India rotate their pool to ensure depth and like for like players available if required, in a clever and thoughtful strategy.
But fans ask, are they peaking too early? And will the pressure to perform in front of their fanatical fans bring them undone?
That question will unfold in the coming weeks when the thirteenth edition kicks off to what is expected to be sold out venues around India.
For many reasons, beating India in India is a herculean task. The last time they hosted the event is a case in point where Sri Lanka fell in a heap under a savage Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting onslaught when it looked like the Lankans were on top.
The result of that win in Mumbai’s Wankade Stadium in 2011 result in the country erupting into wild euphoria and absolute mayhem which I had the unfortunate privilege to witness.
This edition certainly promises some exciting cricket with the qualifiers and dangerous teams such as Afganistan, Netherlands and some others capable of providing some upsets.
Sri Lanka will also be one of those who can topple the best. But crippling injuries to some of their star bowlers will limit their impact. Bangladesh is another.
