World Cup Diary

India has already played two matches in the league phase of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. All those Indian fans, including myself, who were thinking that qualifying for the "Super 8" will be piece of cake are now scratching their heads. India lost the first game against Bangladesh, a game that should have been just a practice match before the real tests in Super 8!!! No body had imagined an Indian defeat but boy, did Bangladesh turn the tables on us!!!! Bangladesh's bowling was absolutely great and they did not give the Indians anything. Moreover, our batters played as if they were facing an all time great bowling attack. Barring Yuvraj Singh, not even a single Indian batsman applied himself and tried to dominate the proceedings. All that was required was somewhat positive approach from the Indians. Had someone attacked the bowling from the start, the result could have been much different. Our batters allowed the Bangladeshi bowlers get into a rythm and dominate. Much has been made out of the innings that Ganguly played. I agree that his innings gave the Indian total some respectability but he is equally to be blamed for the dismal performance of the team. In both the matches, Ganguly has been amongst the runs but still he does not look confident. He is miles away from his flamboyant best. Runs are not flowing from his blade and he is fighting for each run. He is giving an impression that he is trying to build his innings by being cautious and that is not what an opener is supposed to do. An opener is supposed to give a momentum to the innings. To make the matter worse, Ganguly (like always) has been running poorly between the wickets and has been unable to rotate the strike. Runs do matter but those should fit into the overall interest of the team. I personally think that Ganguly played a major role in creating pressure for India in the match against Bangladesh.

The second match was a delight to watch. After the first match, India needed to win both the matches in the league phase and that too with a good net run rate. Well, half the battle has been won. India ripped apart Bermuda's inexperienced bowling attack. It was good to see, Virendra Sehwag back amongst the runs. He played like the old Viru, we all know. Ganguly "walked" to his 89 where as Sehwag, Yuvi and Sachin "galloped"!!! The pain point is the bowling. If we are allowing Bermuda to score 150+ then imagine what can Srilanka, with the likes of Jayasuriya, Sangakara and Jayawardane can do to us. I think that India must play Irfan Pathan in the next match.

Let us all wish our boys all the best and pray for an Indian victory. We have to win the match and win it convincingly to ensure that Bangladesh doesnt catch up on net run rate in the last match of the league, i.e, Bangladesh Vs Bermuda. If somehow Bangladesh wins the match against Srilanka then nothing like it. Now thats called the optimism and wishful thinking of an Indian Cricket Fan!!!!