India in fine fettle for KOs

It might just have been beyond the powers of a Nostradamus to predict that Team India would qualify for the knockouts of the World Cup with an all-win record in their group. So ragged was the team’s display in a desultory Test and tri-series tour of Australia. Came the big event and the sleeping giant woke up with a start, goading itself into action straightaway against arch foes Pakistan. From there on it has been one smooth run to India’s best ever performance in the preliminary league.

Compared to this regal run in which the few dips of the rollercoaster were taken in stride, even the 2011 performance in the prelims — remember there was a tie with England and defeat at the hands of South Africa — pales in comparison. The theorists might be scared of sporting terms like peaking early etc. but there is no need to fear except the fear of knockouts itself for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men. They will be taking on the Tigers of Bangladesh in a couple of days, not with a sense of complacency as much as total belief in their ability to come through as a team in any situation.

If the bowling was impressively fullish in length to take every advantage of the best areas to bowl to in a positive manner to take wickets rather than just contain, the batting was solid enough down the order to take on any challenge. Almost everyone in the top six has been tested and come through with at least one big or credible innings in keeping with talent and potential. With Dhoni running into top form at the right time and finishing a chase with a trademark six, there is an ominous look to the batting with attaining any target looking distinctly possible.

The lack of a genuine opening stand may be a worry since Rohit Sharma managed to stay in with Shikhar Dhawan in a big stand only once, against Ireland. But the top order together mans far more than just the top two of whom Dhawan has been quite brilliant. One big knock might yet come from Rohit who is capable of taking apart an attack if in the mood and it would be better if he fires in the knockouts when a start good would mean the most. Dhoni has been so supportive of Rohit that the opener owes his captain a big one before the World Cup gets over.

The slight drop in bowling energy levels in the last game against Zimbabwe does not appear serious enough for the team to get into an analytical frenzy of the type that has been the downfall of England in the limited-overs game. There is a free spirit principle to the one-day game that must be tapped for individuals and teams to shine.

Take for instance Brendan ‘Kolpak’ Taylor, who showed us what enterprise can do as a companion at the batting crease. The do-or-die nature of knockouts might represent a different kind of pressure. That too can be conquered by belief in one’s own ability rather than computer data analysis.