M A I N   N E W S

Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Indian opener, begins an exclusive series for The Tribune on the World Cup
This World Cup is made for India

Welcome to the home of cricket. Welcome to the nation where one billion hearts throb to the beat of ‘India! India!’, a country which has become the Mecca of cricket, the Marketing Manager of the sport; the heart, soul and body of the game.

Cricket is what India makes it. This is the great country which is a catalyst for the game now, giving it life blood. Even as cricket goes through a wane in most parts of the world, India gives it love, money and joy, and the sport grows like a great Banyan tree, spreading its tentacles far and wide. India is cricket; cricket is India.

And if there ever was a World Cup tournament created with India in mind, this would be the one. Never ever, in its glorious history, has India been favourites for the World Cup.

In every tournament they played, they have been considered to be one of the strong teams, one of the competitive sides. In the past too, they have twice, in 1987 and 1996, come close, only to lose out at the crucial juncture. In 1987, India were looking very strong indeed before going down to England while in 1996, in that historic Eden Gardens semi-final, India fielded first, and lost. They were close in 2003 too, but lost a big final to Australia.

But this time around, the World Cup has come to our shores and into our waters again, and here, India is the big crocodile and not even half-a-dozen lions can challenge the crocodile in its waters!

India have always been very good at home. They have taken on all comers and beaten them, soundly, be it in Test cricket or otherwise when at home. But while the team has been good, this time, the tag of favourite is absolutely perfect, since this is completely a different brand of cricketers.

This team has stamped its authority on the world of Test cricket, which is the most difficult thing to do. Look at Australia. They ruled the roost in international cricket at the Test level and that success showed at the One-day International level too. Once you finds success at level of Test cricket, that success transcends all and reflects everywhere, including ODIs. This is what this band of Indian cricketers has achieved.

These boys are booted and spurred. They are armed to the teeth and ready for battle. In my book, they are hot favourites for the World Cup.

If the practice matches are any indication, the spinners will be crucial. Spinners have always had a part to play in cricket in the sub-continent, but this time, they will deal a telling blow, they will make the difference.

In that direction, Harbhajan Singh, R. Ashwin and Piyush Chawla are good selections, though I would personally opt for Ashwin in most games. He will, with his height, always get spin and create problems for the opposition. Chawla may be used judiciously against some sides that are a bit more suspect against leg-spin but Ashwin gets my vote to play in all the big games.

But while spin, and bowling in general, will play a vital role, ODI matches are rarely won by bowlers. It is a batsman’s game and this is also an area where India need to get their act together.

Team selection is like a jigsaw puzzle. Get one or two pieces wrong and the picture becomes hazy. The batting order must come right for India and the best batsmen should be able to get the crucial 20-30 overs to play. In that direction, I think it is necessary to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni come up the order.

With Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar opening the batting, Gautam Gambhir will come in at No. 3 and I am convinced that Dhoni should play at No. 4, and play most of the 20-30 overs mentioned before. He should be followed by Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan, who can be used flexibly as per the requirement.

Virat Kohli, with all due respect, is a good player but he has a way to go before he can be of the same calibre as Dhoni or the rest. He could slow things down in the middle which is not desirable. Also, putting him in the side would mean that either Yuvraj or Raina would need to sit out. That is not a very good option.

Then come Bhajji, Zaheer Khan, Ashwin, and either Munaf Patel or Ashish Nehra.

Now there is a batting line-up, as strong as Samson, ready to wield the willow like a sword and destroy the opposition! But while this World Cup will be by far the best chance for India to win, there would be a couple of more teams which would be competitive, and I think Sri Lanka and Australia would be the two teams who would be competitive.

But in my book, this one is for India. This will be their best chance to repeat the glory of 1983 and this side is best suited for that job. It would also be divine justice, since it is India that runs world cricket. It would only be fitting that we win the World Cup at home. After all, home is where the heart is, and the heart is in cricket and the World Cup!