So finally it?s down to those high pressure matches. Its knock out Time and ?Team India? is pitted against the World Champs i.e Australia in their first quarter final encounter. One good thing for ?Team India? is the form of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan going into quarters. Also Australia is not the same team which was invincible over a last decade. Their overall World Cup campaign is also not up to their high standards. They may be more demoralized after Pakistan ended their winning streak of 34 World Cup matches.
But this is where the Aussies are more dangerous. They give their best when they are down. Everyone knows the Super Six counter between Australia and South Africa in Leeds when Steve Waugh pulled off an unlikely victory for Australia and the rest is History. I still remember Steve Waugh?s words to Herschelle Gibbs ?you just dropped the World Cup, Mate? when Gibbs dropped an easy catch of Steve Waugh. So Australians cannot be taken lightly even if they are not in the best of form.
Talking about ?Team India?, I strongly believe we have the team to beat the Aussies this time around. The main advantage for India is that match is being played in our own backyard and this are the wickets on which our players have grown up all their life. Toss will be the key. If MSD gets the call right I have no doubt that India will bat first. Another important thing is not aim too high. If we target 330 odd runs and get it then much of the job will be done. It?s important for Sachin to stay on the wicket and not gift his wicket away by playing some loose shot.
If Sachin bats the way we know then ?Team India? will be in a good position to post a huge total. Sehwag should bat aggressively because this is the way he bats best. Even if we are chasing we should follow the same Mantra. Depending on the Target we should use our batsman. Say if we are 160/2 at the end of 30 overs batting first, then it will be a strong case for MS Dhoni to push himself up the order and take the attack to the bowlers. If we are chasing say 300 odd and god forbids if we lose Master and Veeru early then it is very important for Virat and Gauti to steady the ship and set the stage for big hitters to follow. Yuvraj should be also used cleverly in batting as he has a good record against the Aussies.
The main concern is India?s bowling. Only Zaheer Khan has proved his worth in the tournament. Others have been average or poor. ?Team India? might consider playing three spinners against the Aussies. But I personally don?t support this move as we already have lot of part time spinners in our side. It?s good that Ashwin is finally in the Team and it was a good strategy to give the new ball to Ashwin against the West Indies. India should follow the same strategy against Australia. Munaf can be best utilized in middle overs so it should be Zaks and Ashwin opening with part timers like Yusuf filling up first 20 overs.
Like West Indies, even against the Aussies Zaheer should be given max 3 to 4 overs in his first spell. He is more dangerous with the old ball then with the new cherry in his hand. Another important factor is how Harbhajan bowls. He is our wicket taking bowler but sadly in this World Cup he is doing a containing job. India will be happier if Bhajji gives us figures of say 50/3 rather than 40/1 in his spell of 10 overs. Bhajji should be given the ball as soon as Ponting comes to bat as he has that psychological edge over Ponting.
Over all it promises to be a thriller with two champions teams competing for a slot in Semis. So all the readers, please pray for Team India as they take on Aussies at Ahmedabad on 24th?March from 2:30 P.M . Let the best team win and I know ?TEAM INDIA? is the best.