It’s been quite an ODI world cup for the Indian cricket team so far.
Led by Rohit Sharma, India, who are hosting the tournament as well, have been unbeatable, winning all their eight matches to top the points table en route to the semis. They have steamrolled their opponents with their bowlers in sensational form.
India will face New Zealand in the first semi-final in Mumbai next week, the only team that seemingly came close to giving them a fight in the competition so far.
Former India allrounder Ravi Shastri, a world cup winner himself, thinks that this is the best chance for the former two-time champions to lay their hands on the trophy again which they last won in 2011.
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“This country is going mad. The last time they won it was 12 years ago. They have an opportunity to do it again. The way they are playing, this is probably their best chance,” Shastri said on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.
Shastri, a former India head coach, though has a warning for Rohit & Co – win the title this time or the team may have to wait another three world cups to be able to do so.
“If they miss out this time, they would probably have to wait another three World Cups for even thinking of trying to win it. The pool of players are such the 7-8 players are at their peak,” Shastri said.
The likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami have been in sublime form, playing a vital role in India’s unbeaten streak.
“This could well be their last World Cup. The way they are playing, given the conditions, they have got the team to win it,” Shastri added.
While the batters continue to shine, India’s bowling attack has been the talk of the town given how its has dismantled the opposition batting line-ups.
Be it the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj or the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, India’s opponents have found it difficult to deal with them.
Shastri reckons that the current form of Indian bowlers has been years in the making.
“It is extraordinary and it has taken time, it has not happened overnight. They have been playing with each (of them) for four to five years. Siraj joined the party three years ago,” he said.
“They know the kind of areas to hit on a consistent basis. They know it is not important to look flashy when you bowl. It is more about consistency and getting the ball in the right areas,” Shastri added.
Shastri even branded the current India bowling attack as the best ever since the emergence of white-ball cricket.
“In this World Cup, they have bowled hardly any short balls. if there is a short ball, it is used as a surprise weapon. 90 per cent of the time they have been targeting the stumps like you must do in India hitting those three-quarters lengths,” he said.
“Because of their seam positions, they are getting the ball to nip around and that is causing a lot of problems. It is the best attack in 50 years ever since white-ball cricket started,” he added.
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