India - Road to the semis
With the stage set for the second semifinal in Mohali against Pakistan, here's a look at India's journey in the ICC Cricket World Cup so far!
By Rajesh Kumar
Wednesday's semi-final at Mohali will be the mother of all battles. When you have two evenly-matched teams, you are sure to have a cracker of a game.
Before their semi-final appearnce against Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday, India outclassed Bangladesh by 87 runs in Dhaka on February 19 in the inaugural game of the tenth edition, Ireland by five wickets at Bengaluru on March 6, Netherlands by five wickets in Delhi on March 9, West Indies by 80 runs at Chennai on March 20 and Australia by five wickets at Ahmedabad on March 24, apart from contesting a tied game against England at Bengaluru, their second in the competition, on February 27.
The only defeat suffered by them was against South Africa by three wickets at Nagpur on March 12.
The quarter-final game against the Australians could not have come at a better time. With this win, the faith of millions was restored.
The Indian batsmen, except Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have been in excellent form so far. Sachin Tendulkar (379 at an average of 54.14), Virender Sehwag (342 at 57.00), Yuvraj Singh (341 at 113.66), Gautam Gambhir (269 at 38.42) and Virat Kohli (238 at 39.66) are the top run scorers for them.
Sachin Tendulkar will have the opportunity to reach the coveted milestone and the century of international hundreds is a peak that will make him the greatest ever.
Ravichandran Ashwin, kept in the sidelines in the first five games, has proved his effectiveness in the only two games he played. With his inclusion, India seem to have discovered the right bowling combination. He has bagged four wickets at 23.25 runs apiece, the economy rate and strike rate being 4.65 and 30.0 respectively as against Piyush Chawla's tally of four wickets in three games at 43.50 runs apiece, economy rate (6.21) and strike rate (42.0).
Ashwin, as in the previous two games, is expected to open the Indian attack. Another two-wicket haul early in the innings would be a dream spell. Zaheer has led the bowling attack admirably so far with his consistent performance, claiming 17 wickets at 16.23 runs apiece. He was well supported by Yuvraj (11 at 24.63), Munaf Patel (9 at 30.22). Only Harbhajan has to perform to his potential in this World Cup against Pakistan. He has to play the role of an attacking bowler rather than containing the batsmen as his six wickets (ave.49.50) have been taken at an economy rate of 4.43.
The Indians would be depending heavily on Yuvraj Singh, who has rediscovered his Midas touch ever since the tournament commenced. Another score of 50-plus and two-wicket haul would surely take India to the Grand clash against Sri Lanka.
Having outclassed Pakistan in the previous four World Cup games, India seem primed to make it the fifth!
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