India on Course for Top Spot

India ’s first and only official ‘warm-up’ match of the Champions Trophy has revealed little of the team that is touted as the incumbent world number one.

A 103-run loss to New Zealand is not indicative of the team nor the performance of the Indian team that won the recent Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka.

That team featured Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina while the batting line-up that failed to chase down the Kiwis’ 301 was, well actually, there was just one difference.

Tendulkar, the Little Maestro was replaced in the line-up by Dinesh Karthik who managed just 20. Tendulkar however managed to score 138 in his last innings.

Arguing that India is a one man show is ignorant of the talent India sports. The batsmen previously mentioned all could be in a World XI team an their bowling attack is as dangerous any other in the world.

They have a genuine claim to be the best one-day international team in the world having won their past six series dating back to the five match series in August 2008, against Sri Lanka.

India ’s apparent fallibility away from the sub-continent seems to be a thing of the past as well with series wins in New Zealand and the West Indies among their six series wins.

Their performances in South Africa seem to be irrelevant, the Indians last played a one-day series in the Proteas back yard in 2006, and all though they lost the four matches, not much can be read into the results from three years ago.

Bookmakers have installed India at +350 slightly behind tournament favourites South Africa.

India will move through their pool guaranteeing themselves a semi final spot and realistically they should meet South Africa in the final come October 5.

The team:

MS Dhoni (c): As a captain, Dhoni is impeccable, he reads the play, he has an idea of momentum, he can stick to a plan. As a batsman, he is brutal and as a gloveman, he is more than competent. As captains go, he is possible the best doing the rounds in international cricket.

Yuvraj Singh (vc): A handy all-rounder, the left hander averages 37.75 at a strike rate of 89.46 after 239 matches. Shows he is consistent and has the ability to break partnerships with his left arm orthodox spin.

Rahul Dravid: His reappointment to the team has been heavily criticised by former players who argue that India should be looking forward and not picking a player who hasn’t played in two years for his national team. It’s a fair point too however here is a player, a big game player, with 336 ODI under his belt, who has scored close to 11,000 ODI runs at an average of 39.42 and a strike rate of 71.

I would much prefer to have Dravid striding to the crease if the openers fail than have a player with a dozen matches to his name coming into bat to hold up the middle order. Experience in these tournaments counts.

Gautam Gambhir: I expect big things from Gambhir this tournament. Something tells me he is in for a big couple of matches.