World Cup: Double Boost For India Before WI Clash

Virat Kohli’s Team India which suffered a batting debacle before their bowlers snatched an unlikely win against minnows Afghanistan in their last outing in the 2019 World Cup, received a booster dose of confidence on Wednesday, the eve of their high-octane clash against the West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Victories over South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Afghanistan and a washout versus New Zealand have kept India firmly on course for a semifinal berth. And their red-hot form, coupled with hosts’ England’s inconsistency, has caused a tectonic shift in One-Day International cricket’s world order.

The English team, led by Eoin Morgan that entered the World Cup as the world’s No 1 ranked side on ODIs, has surrendered the numero uno spot to India. Just one point separates India and England but Kohli & Co. can increase the gap if they win their remaining four group league matches, which includes a much-anticipated clash against England on June 30. And if India go on to lift the trophy for the third time in the tournament’s history, they would be worthy world champions and undisputed No.1 side in ODIs.

If England’s losses against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia contributed to India’s rise to the top of the ODI charts, New Zealand’s first defeat in the 2019 edition — a six-wicket loss to Pakistan in Birmingham on Wednesday —  has left India as the only unbeaten side in the tournament.

It may not be a do-or-die match for India but they will still have a lot to play for when they take on the mercurial Caribbeans led by Jason Holder on Thursday. A victory will virtually ensure a semi-final slot for India with three games in hand, thereby adding to the aura of invincibility around the team. It should not be a big problem for Kohli’s team as the current West Indies team is at best an unpredictable unit that is teeming with talent but has long ceased to be a major force in international cricket.

This West Indies team pales into insignificance in comparison with their 1983 side that lost the World Cup final to Kapil’s Devils in 1983. An injury-prone Andre Russell has already gone home, Chris Gayle, who will be 40 in September, is capable of producing the odd power-packed innings but clearly lacks the stamina and fitness to shoulder larger responsibilities of the team. Their pace attack has variety and depth, but the team lacks a quality spinner while their younger batsmen like Shai Hope, Ervin Lewis and Shimron Hetmayer are yet to mature.

That explains the mere three points the West Indies have in their kitty from six matches so far. A lone win over Pakistan is the only positive result they have managed. Technically, they are still in the race for a semi-final berth, but they will need a miracle of sorts to make the cut.

India’s only worry so far has been an unsettled middle-order that was cruelly exposed by the Afghanistan bowlers. The elevation of KL Rahul from No 4 to the opening slot following Shikhar Dhawan’s injury and subsequent pull-out, has left a gaping hole in the middle-order and the team management has sought to fill it with the all-round skills of Vijay Shankar.

Talented he may be, but Shankar is hardly a full-fledged all-rounder. His limited batting skills is best utilized down the order rather than at the crucial No 4 position which needs a versatile batsman, who is  capable of quickly reading the match situation and altering his game accordingly.

 Given the fact that India have a four-game cushion to seal a semi-final berth, the team management may find it worthwhile to try out the experienced Dinesh Karthik or the young and exciting Rishabh Pant at No. 4 in a bid find a long-term solution to the problem.

With MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya automatic choices for the No 5 and No 6 slots, respectively, it should be a toss-up between Shankar and Kedar Jadhav for the No 7 spot, followed by four frontline bowlers — two pacers (Jasprit Bumrah and Md Shami) and two spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal).

If Indian batsmen manage to cope with the barrage of short balls that West Indies pacers Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach and Oshane Thomas are sure to direct it towards their bodies, and our bowlers do not give the likes of Gayle, Hetmayer and Carlos Brathwaite the width to free their arms, there is every likelihood that the curtain could fall on West Indies’ inglorious campaign.

(The writer is a veteran sports journalist based in Kolkata. He was formerly with The Times of India)