Indian team for WC07
Posted by Rajesh on February 12, 2007
They have announced the Indian team and I had a similar team on paper, except for one, Mohammad Kaif. I feel he is much better a fielder than Dinesh Karthik. I am aware that Dinesh played well in one match againt WI, but he did mis field 3 times in Rajkot against SL, which are worth atleast 10 runs. At last we lost the match by 5 runs. So fielding is crucial and Kaif would have been a better pick. Imagine in one match in WC, yuvraj falls sick, our fielding will be worse than the fielding during 1999 world cup.
But overall the selection was good. I think we have a very strong team. Even middle order is ok. Sehwag should improve alot. Sehwag, Yuvraj, dhoni, pathan/karthik are the key players. They have to make atleast 100 – 125 runs between them if the top order clicks, but if the top order topples, then they have even a bigger role to play.
Bowling lineup is good too. Zaheer, Munaf and Agarkar and very very consistent with line and length, which will be the key when we start playing super 8s. Teams like Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka have openers who can make start scoring from the first ball if they are bowled slightly away from the line. And first 10 overs are the key in this WC 07. If we can restrict a run rate of 5.5 in the first 15 overs, I think there will be equal pressure on both sides.
I am sure will play super 8s. No doubt about it. But we have to play an excellent game for every match in super 8s. The toss, the weather and everything else will start playing their role.
