In my opinion, the performance of team India in 2015 cricket world cup was their second best performance since (and including) 1996 world cup. And even after losing to Australia in semifinal, I am not completely unhappy. Actually there are a lot of things about India in this world cup that make me very happy and satisfied.
It all started with selection of squad of 15 players. Fortunately squad selection was one of the easiest job for the selectors that ended up being one of the most criticised decision of recent times. Selectors’ approach was simple, they selected a team of those players who performed really well in Champions’ trophy 2013 and who were in very good form at the time of selection. Indians dominated the Champions’ trophy and it was easy for selectors to hope same from the same people. Critiques on the other hand felt that leaving out veterans who were out of form, and in some cases also out of touch was a bad choice. In my opinion, leaving out ‘out-of-form’ and ‘out-of-touch’ players gave India advantage in two ways. First, team India was young. They hardly ever saw the problems with fielding, dropped catches, missed run out chances and slow running between the wickets during this world cup. Getting AB run out in the match with South Africa was the result of that decision. If that chance would have been missed, that could have cost India the match, knowing that he is a great finisher. Secondly, this young team was more hungry and more disciplined than the team with veterans would have been, who at times tend to get complacent at wrong times.
Then, looking at the form of Indian players just before the world cup, I had given up the hope about team India’s performance in this world cup. Before the world cup, team India had lost a test series and a one-day series miserably. At that time, many of the players were out of form and also away from home for more than two months. They also knew the fact that they have to be away from home for almost two more months. But to my pleasant surprise, everyone got back to their good form when they were needed the most. Moreover the fact that everyone contributed equally was cherry on the top. Innings by Dhavan against South Africa, Raina against Zimbabwe, Rohit against Bangladesh and Kohli against Pakistan were as much useful as that of Raina against Pakistan, Rahane against South Africa and Dhoni against Zimbabwe. It was without-a-doubt an all round batting performance.
And what can I say about bowlers in this series! Not only I, but no one, including the players, expected to take all 10 in wickets in all the games in the series till quarterfinals. Also, where you expect average bowling speed around 135 kmph by Indian bowlers, all three of them bowled at speed more than 140 regularly in this world cup. They were able to swing and bounce the ball whenever they wanted. Till the semifinals, two of the top five wicket takers of the tournament were Indian bowlers. You don’t expect that kind of performance from Indian bowlers. This happened because of the hunger and the discipline they have.
And then came the semifinal. It was against the ‘big’ team of Australia. In my opinion, India never had a chance against Australia in this world cup. Indians miserably lost a test and a one day series to Australia just before the world cup but there was a hope. The hope that was born because of the seven consecutive wins in this world cup. The big, mighty Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. Indian bowlers bowled their hearts out but couldn’t take smith’s wicket who did a big damage. The bowlers did come back in last 15 overs where they limited Australian total to 328, when at one time looked like an easy 380. But the Indian batsmen could not deliver in the pressure situation. 328 is a difficult target in any game (even with changed rules) and Indians succombed to the pressue of the big target. Bad luck too played some part and India lost the match. It makes you wonder what could have happened if there were some veterans around to bare some the pressure, but I cannot imagine the performance of Indian team in this world cup without Rahane, Rohit and Shikhar (who would have been left out if veterans were to be there). As Harsha Bhogle said in his one of the video blogs before the world cup, “Indians should be happy if they get to the semi final”, I hope Indians really are (I believe the players would be).
This world cup was actually the second best performance by India in the world cups since 1996 (1996 included). They say you never remember the second best, but in this case, I will. I will remember this second best.
Note:
In my opinion, the best performance by indians in the world cups since 1996 (1996 included) was in 2003 world cup.
- AmitHK
