The Indian team is clearly struggling. Some of its players are plagued by injuries and out of practice, and the team has just finished a winless tour of Australia for the first time in 47 years. Where does this leave India’s campaign for the Cricket World beginning this month in Australia and New Zealand? That is the question on every Indian cricket fan’s mind.
India began their tour of Australia in early December 2014. Over two months there, they played a total of 10 matches in a Test series and a triangular one-day series. Not one victory came their way though. Even the two warm-up matches prior to the Tests were drawn.
A litany of injured players has hobbled India in recent times. Batsman Rohit Sharma’s “sore” hamstring kept him out of the team for three of India’s four matches in the ODI series. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been bogged down with a shoulder injury, got some practice only in the match against England on January 30. And Ishant Sharma has not bowled since the Boxing Day Test over a month ago.
The Indian cricket board has declared that these three will appear for a fitness test on February 7 and only then will their participation in the World Cup be confirmed.
There is no doubt that the trio’s participation, and strong performance, would be crucial for India’s chances. At press conferences during the recent Australia tour, India captain MS Dhoni regularly answered questions with “Jadeja” in the sentence, ascribing the team’s problems to the all-rounder’s absence. But when Jadeja did play against England, he lasted only 18 balls and five paltry runs.
All this of course further trims the slim chances many gave India in the World Cup. Their opening match is against Pakistan, whom they have never lost to in any edition of the tournament – thus far.
Campaigns in the past
Back in 2011, before the start of the World Cup, India had played South Africa away from home in a five-match ODI series and a three-match Test series. Four of these matches were won by India, with relatively few players getting sidelined by injuries. They went on to win their first World Cup since Kapil Dev led India to victory in 1983.
In 2007, the Indian team played South Africa, again away from home, in a three-match Test series and lost two of those matches. A month before the 2007 World Cup, against Sri Lanka, they won two out of four matches at home in unconvincing fashion. They went on to crash out in the group stages.
Prior to the 2003 World Cup in the West Indies, India lost five of the seven away-from-home matches to New Zealand. In the World Cup though, India had a relatively easy run until the final. In the Super Six stage and semi-finals, they played teams like the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Pakistan. In the final, they got walloped by Australia by 125 runs.
In 1999, India played in the Coca-Cola Cup against England and Pakistan in Sharjah. They won three of the matches but then easily lost twice to Pakistan. In the World Cup, they reached the Super Six stage and beat Pakistan, but crucially lost to Australia and New Zealand, getting knocked out in the process.
India began their tour of Australia in early December 2014. Over two months there, they played a total of 10 matches in a Test series and a triangular one-day series. Not one victory came their way though. Even the two warm-up matches prior to the Tests were drawn.
A litany of injured players has hobbled India in recent times. Batsman Rohit Sharma’s “sore” hamstring kept him out of the team for three of India’s four matches in the ODI series. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been bogged down with a shoulder injury, got some practice only in the match against England on January 30. And Ishant Sharma has not bowled since the Boxing Day Test over a month ago.
The Indian cricket board has declared that these three will appear for a fitness test on February 7 and only then will their participation in the World Cup be confirmed.
There is no doubt that the trio’s participation, and strong performance, would be crucial for India’s chances. At press conferences during the recent Australia tour, India captain MS Dhoni regularly answered questions with “Jadeja” in the sentence, ascribing the team’s problems to the all-rounder’s absence. But when Jadeja did play against England, he lasted only 18 balls and five paltry runs.
All this of course further trims the slim chances many gave India in the World Cup. Their opening match is against Pakistan, whom they have never lost to in any edition of the tournament – thus far.
Campaigns in the past
Back in 2011, before the start of the World Cup, India had played South Africa away from home in a five-match ODI series and a three-match Test series. Four of these matches were won by India, with relatively few players getting sidelined by injuries. They went on to win their first World Cup since Kapil Dev led India to victory in 1983.
In 2007, the Indian team played South Africa, again away from home, in a three-match Test series and lost two of those matches. A month before the 2007 World Cup, against Sri Lanka, they won two out of four matches at home in unconvincing fashion. They went on to crash out in the group stages.
Prior to the 2003 World Cup in the West Indies, India lost five of the seven away-from-home matches to New Zealand. In the World Cup though, India had a relatively easy run until the final. In the Super Six stage and semi-finals, they played teams like the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Pakistan. In the final, they got walloped by Australia by 125 runs.
In 1999, India played in the Coca-Cola Cup against England and Pakistan in Sharjah. They won three of the matches but then easily lost twice to Pakistan. In the World Cup, they reached the Super Six stage and beat Pakistan, but crucially lost to Australia and New Zealand, getting knocked out in the process.
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