India on a roll, Windies on rebound

India’s clinical dissection of Pakistan and South Africa, and the squashing of UAE, show that the team is confident and in excellent form. Experts say they’re among the favourites — this is quite incredible. Barely three weeks ago, India’s campaign in the World Cup seemed to be all but over — they had gone without a single win in over two months of tour of Australia. They had been crushed by Australia and rattled by England in the tri-series. It seemed that all was over for India in the World Cup before a single ball was bowled.

The campaign has been lit up. The players are charged up. The fans are expectant.

The bowlers are, surprisingly, India’s stars of the tournament so far — they comprise the most economical bowling attack in the World Cup. The batsmen, variously violent and elegant, powerful and graceful, are dangerous. This bodes well for tomorrow’s match.

However, there’s this small matter of the giants of the West Indies team. West Indies can be very competitive. They can be very abysmal, too — they possess the ability to please and infuriate. What they do tomorrow could well boil down to the mood they’re in in the morning. This view suggests that they’re not thoroughly professional in the way they play; they bring in an amateur’s joy and celebration of the sport.

India’s key wins so far, against Pakistan and South Africa, were the wins of the full team — the batsmen came up with 300-plus scores, the bowlers then bowled with strength and innovation, surprising and strangling the opposition. In this scenario of India’s campaign, the only worry could be that the team hasn’t been tested enough. India could well be tested tomorrow — especially if Chris Gayle or Marlon Samuel or Darren Sammy get going.

The joy of Windies

West Indies are the kings of laughter. They get off the team bus laughing. They go to the dressing room laughing, and come out laughing. In the nets, they laugh when they bat and they laugh when they bowl. They laugh when they pull each other’s leg while doing fielding drills, too. They make jokes and friends easily.

Sadly, over the recent years, the joke has been on them. Since their last World Cup title victory, 36 years ago, the landscape of the cricket world has changed completely. In performance, they’re closer to the ‘minnows’ than the top ranked teams.

Much has happened since India and West Indies last played each other — at Dharamsala late last year. Immediately after that, West Indies pulled out of the tour due to a pay dispute with their cricket board. The West Indians have no dispute with the Indian players, though, and vice versa. Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, is only 23 years old; he’s already played 4 ODIs against India, and he’s made friends with many Indian cricketers. And, of course, he plays in the IPL under MS Dhoni. He and Dhoni hugged and stopped by to have a protracted chat as the Indians finished practice today and the West Indians came in to train. The West Indies dressing room was soon ringing with sounds of laughter. So much positively, so much energy! Even after the crushing defeat to AB de Villiers and Ireland.

The track to be used for this game was used also for the match between Australia and Afghanistan yesterday. Tons of runs were made, and tons of wickets were taken —well, both by Australia.

West Indies have got over 300 runs three times already, though one match, against Ireland, was still lost. South Africa practically stole 408 runs from them, from right under their nose. South Africa had crushed West Indies; just as Australia had crushed Afghanistan yesterday here.

India’s fans envisage that sort of a game here tomorrow — they don’t want an “even contest”, they just want another victory for India. Gayle, the only maker of a double century in the World Cup, will have certain ideas about this. We’ll know tomorrow

Quick singles: 

Mohit survives injury scare ahead of WI clash 

In-form pacer Mohit Sharma was today hit on the right hand during training but he remains available for selection for India's World Cup game against the West Indies here tomorrow. “Mohit Sharma got hit in his right hand during net practice today and Precautionary x-ray was taken and found normal. He is available for selection for tomorrow's game,” said India team's media manager R N Baba. The right arm medium pacer has taken five wickets in three games so far in the tournament at an impressive economy rate of 3.90.    

Lehmann flies 3,000km to see son's FC debut 

Australia coach Darren Lehmann made a journey of more than 3,000 kilometres to present his son, Jake, with his South Australia first-class cap. The morning after Australia had thrashed Afghanistan by 275 runs in the World Cup in Perth, Lehmann made the long journey to Adelaide.”It was a very memorable moment,” said the former Australia batsman. “He's done all the hard work and he deserves the opportunity so now it's up to him to do the rest,” said Lehmann of his 22-year-old son. “I'm very proud and excited for him. He's got a career ahead and now it's up to him to make the most of it.

SL opener Karunaratne ruled out of World Cup 

Sri Lanka batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was today ruled out of the remainder of the cricket World Cup after suffering an injury to his little finger during the team's practice session ahead of Sunday's crucial tie against Australia. An x-ray on the injured finger revealed a fracture, which has put an end to the left handed opener's hopes of featuring in the tournament any further. — Agencies