Can India reclaim the World Cup?
By Abhijit Chatterjee

WHAT are the ingredients which go to make a good cricket team? The pundits would say that a good team must have an abundance of talent, team spirit, a well-defined team strategy and above all the will to do well, besides a thinking and a dynamic leader.

It is these ingredients which a team will bank upon as it prepares its campaign for the last cricket World Cup of the current millennium, beginning in England shortly. But how far does this definition fit the current Indian team, already in England for over two weeks in an effort to repeat the feat of 1983?

Indian cricket, at least the one-day variety, can be divided into two phases, pre-1983 and post-1983. The historic win at Lord’s in June, 1983, made the one-day ties an altogether different ball game in the country, so much so that the team members of the 1983 World Cup winning squad are still feted and lionised for achieving the near impossible.

Prior to 1983 nobody in India took one-day cricket very seriously and the team was content in winning the occasional match or two. Our records even in the first two editions of the World Cup were hardly anything to write home about. But winning the Prudential Cup in 1983 changed everything. The Indian fan now wanted the team to win each and every match and each and every tournament it played. The win in the 1985 Champions Tournament in Australia (in which all teams which play international cricket took part) as well as the performances in the 1987 and 1996 World Cups, when India entered the semi-finals, has only raised visions of yet another World Cup win this year. But is the current Indian team equipped to win the World Cup again?

The format of the 1999 World Cup shows quite a few innovations. The 12 participating teams have been divided into two pools. All teams in a pool will play each other and the top three teams from each pool will advance into the "super six," where again the teams will play in a league with the teams of the other group with the top four teams moving into the semi-finals.

India have been drawn into a relatively tough Pool "A" consisting of South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The other pool consists of the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh and Scotland. The last two teams in this pool are qualifiers. The first priority of any team will be to enter the "super six’’ and after that it can be anybody’s game .

For a team to enter the "super six" it must win at least three of the five preliminary league matches. But then in the one-day game the team which plays better on a given day wins that day. And this is why no team can relax because one slip can translate a sure win into defeat.

India begin their campaign in this year’s World Cup with their tie against South Africa at Hove on May 15. This, of course, will be India’s toughest match in the pool The next two matches for India would be relatively easy, against Zimbabwe on May 19 at Leicester, and Kenya, at Bristol on May 23. India then play Sri Lanka at Tauton on May 26 and end their pool matches with the game against England at Edgbaston. Three wins out of five should see India going to the "super six".

Besides, England, where most of the matches will be played, presents it own peculiar problems. The ball will tend to swing much more than in the sub-continent or even Australia (where previous editions of the World Cup have been played). Also, the weather which can be sunny on one day and wet the following day, adding to the discomfiture of the teams. It will be difficult for any team to draw up a regular strategy as it is difficult to say how the weather will behave even as the day progresses.

But before we discuss the strength and weakness of the current Indian team we must analyse the performance of the squad in the recent past to know how the team stands vis-a-vis the other participating teams in the World Cup. Since January, 1998, till date the Indian team has played a total of 55 one-day internationals (the maximum by any team in the world), winning 31, losing 21 while three matches failed to yield any result. But if last year the Indian team could pocket quite a few one-day titles, both at home and abroad, its performance this year has not been satisfactory at all, to say the least. The team had a success rate of 62.50 per cent in 1998 which fell to just 50 per cent this year with the team winning seven out of 15 matches, with one match ending without a result. While admitting that a team will win some and lose some, the way the Indians have thrown away matches in the recent past has hurt the psyche of the ordinary Indian fan.

In 1999 India have played a total of 15 one-day matches, five against New Zealand, six against Pakistan, three in India and three in Sharjah, two matches against Sri Lanka (in India) and a similar number against England in Sharjah. Out of these 15 matches India won seven, lost seven while one match failed to yield any result. But what is most galling for India is the fact that out of six matches played against Pakistan the year it could win only one match, losing the remaining five and that too by big margins.

True, India are not scheduled to meet Pakistan in the pool games, the defeats in quick succession have obviously left the Indians demoralised. They will have to re-assert themselves if they hope to do well in the World Cup. (And for the first time since its inception in 1975 the World Cup will not carry the name of the title sponsors , according to a decision taken by the International Cricket Council).

Let us, on the other hand, look at the performance of the teams which figure in India’s pool in the World Cup. Although the World Cup does not give any seeding to any team on current form South Africa should be among the favourites to win this time after coming so close both in 1992 (when they were beaten by a ridiculous rain rule which saw them having to score 21 runs off one delivery) and again in 1996 when they ran into a determined Brian Lara in the quarterfinals at Karachi after beating every team convincingly in the league stage.

The biggest win for South Africa ever since their return to international after a gap of over 20 year due to the policy of apartheid was the win last year of the ICC Cup at Dhaka where all the Test-playing countries took part. In all since 1998 the South Africans have played 36 one-day internationals of which they have won 26 ties, proving that they too are beatable on a given day. The South Africans have played New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies during the period.

The only major team they have not played during this period is India whom they will meet in the first match of the World Cup. Also, the South Africans have not met their neighbours Zimbabwe even once during their period although the Zimbabweans could have picked up useful tips by playing against their more powerful rivals. Also, the two teams figure in the same pool in the World Cup. But then South Africa have been very choosy about the tournaments they play in. Also, time and again they have opted to rest their top players from major international assignments.

The next important team in India’s pool are hosts England, who in spite of the fact that they have entered the finals of the World Cup on three occasions, have yet to lift the cup. Their track record in the recent past has not been good, but for them playing at home is a different ball game. In 1998 England played a total of 12 one-day games, winning just three and losing nine.

This year England have played 16 one-day internationals, winning six and losing 10, including two to India at Sharjah. However, England did notch up a good win in the desert venue when they beat Pakistan in a league match in the triangular series. But the England side can prove to be a different cup of tea at home and a lot of experts are saying that the 1999 World Cup could see England picking up the cup.

In the run-up to the World Cup the most underrated team has been the 1996 winners Sri Lanka. Their recent performances has definitely not enthused their fans and they will have to pick up their game if they hope to do well in the tournament. In 1998 Sri Lanka played a total of 23 one-day games, winning just 11 while losing 12. In this period they played against Zimbabwe, South Africa, Pakistan, India, New Zealand as also England. This year the island team has played 14 one-day internationals, winning only four. Why has Sri Lanka sunk to such dismal depth is difficult to understand. Maybe, the fault lies with the team itself which has not induced any fresh blood in the past four years.

India have played Sri Lanka a number of times in 1998-99. The two neighbours clashed thrice in the Independence Cup in Sri Lanka where India won two ties while losing the third. The two teams again met at Sharjah where again India won both matches. This year India have played Sri Lanka twice at home with the hosts winning both matches. But India should not get complacent with these victories because the Sri Lankans can bounce back, specially when they have a title to defend.

The remaining two teams in the pool, Zimbabwe and Kenya, might not pose too great a challenge to the 1983 winners, but then Kenya have to their credit a win against former champions West Indies in the last edition of the World Cup in 1996. Zimbabwe have played 26 ties in 1998, winning six and losing 20 while this year they have played five matches in a triangular series involving Kenya, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Bangladesh winning all ties. Last year India did meet Zimbabwe a number of times. The two first met in a triangular series in India with the hosts winning both encounters. They next met in a series in Zimbabwe where India won 2-1. The last time they met was at Sharjah where again India won two of the three matches.

According to certain specialists, India is arguably the best equipped team "of all the 12 countries scheduled to take part in the World Cup." The Indian team has a number of players who are used to English conditions, including star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, who has returned to international cricket after a long lay-off due to injury, left-hander opener Saurav Ganguly, who was such a big hit when India toured England last, and of course Rahul Dravid, who has the technique to negotiate the moving delivery.

According to Wisden, considered by many to be the Bible of cricket, India has three most dangerous bowlers in the world in Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble, who can exploit the English conditions to the fullest. And in Nayan Mongia India have a very safe pair of hands behind the wickets.

But Wisden apart, India, in spite of the fact that the morale in the team is low on account of the recent string of reverses, do have the capacity to do a repeat of 1983 provided, of course, all players perform to their full potential. The World Cup which extends over a month demands that the team performs to its full potential match after match if it wants to lay its hands on the cup.

With Sachin Tendulkar back in the squad the team can get off to an explosive start (many pundits , however, are of the view that big hitting would be nearly impossible in England), Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Azharuddin and the utility players like Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh can build up a very good innings. And even the late order batsmen like Nayan Mongia, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble can pick up useful runs. Certain former players have, however, opined that it would be good cricketing sense to send Sachin down the order, say at number four, because in English conditions the "master blaster" might find it difficult to get off to an explosive start. So why lose such a valuable wicket like Sachin early in the innings, the arguments goes .

The Indian bowling in the hands of Srinath, Prasad, Ajit Agarkar, Mohanty and even players like Sachin, Ganguly and Jadeja looks quite capable of posing quite a few problems to the opposition. In fact, it will bowlers like Ganguly and Robin Singh with their gentle medium pace who could prove to be a cut above the rest in English conditions (remember what a success Mohinder Amarnath was in 1983)

But more than cricketing skills the World Cup will test the think tanks of the participating teams. For India, it means, that cricket manager Anshuman Gaekwad and consultant Bobby Simpson will have their hands full in the course of the tournament trying to work out different strategies. With Brijesh Patel also in the team as administrative manager there is yet another person whose cricketing skills can be used for the betterment of the team.

The one factor which might just might be worrying India is the form of their skipper Mohammed Azharuddin. Of late the Indian skipper has been out of form with the bat and to top it he has not been communicating with the team members, specially the youngsters. And his apparent nervousness on the field might well add to India’s discomfiture A more positive attitude from the Indian skipper, leading the team for the third time in the World Cup, can probably change the entire scenario of the team. But England has been one of the favourite venues of the Indian skipper. Some of his best innings have come in England. There is no reason why the Indian skipper cannot regain his wanton touch, and if he does the task of the opposition would become all the more difficult. But if all things fall in place there is no reason why India should not repeat its performance of 1996, if not of 1983. And from there it can be anybody’s day.Also, the Indian skipper has sharp cricketing brains in players like Sachin and Jadeja, both of whom have led India in the past, and if all of them put their heads together then the team can really act like an well-oiled machine.

The team, however, can take heart from the fact that in 1983 the punters were offering odds of 50-1 on India winning the cup. But this year they are offering odds of 12-1 on an Indian win, the same being offered to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and strong favourites South Africa. Only two other teams, hosts England and two-time winners West Indies, have higher odds of 10-1.