Peaking at the right time

This is Dhoni’s motto for the world cup. Is team India really struggling against minnows or is it simply underplaying their prowess? Instinct tells me that it is the latter. While I believe logic can explain both possibilities, here is my take on Dhoni’s captaincy and team India’s performance so far.

Against Bangladesh, it was pure revenge and besides what could be a more spectacular opening to the 2011 World Cup; even the best fireworks display would have paled against the fine display of shots. Moreover, Sehwag had a lot of work to do for the words he spoke and the strokes he played (or did not play) pending from 2007.

Against England, it was a true clash of equals and the results are testimony to it.

Against Ireland, I would certainly not say India struggled. It was more of a strategic gamble that Dhoni orchestrated. When he played Chawla, he was testing his form for future games. When he chose to field, he was testing his side to chase in case luck would not favor him in an important toss. The top order did not seem to crumble, rather it looked like it was on the agenda to have all the 7 batsmen come out and play. Amongst the seven, four made decent contribution (relative to the target) at the SR of 65. Yusuf Pathan, the last batsman in, was told to play his part, i.e. wind up the match, and he shone with a SR of over 100. Our bowling is not an asset and therefore attributing any strategy to it would be overkill.

Yesterday, against Netherlands – again Dhoni’s men may have found it to their advantage to underplay to some extent and ease a bit of the hype and expectation built around them. After all, expectations have been known to build pressure and bring down the mightiest. I must note here that I hold both Ireland and Netherlands in great respect for showing absolute resilience until the match result. Their spirit for the game is commendable.

And now a bit for team India on a whole - the batting line up, the bowling attack and fielding.

While I do not believe that India is the best side in this World Cup as it lacks the bowling attack, what I do believe that if India ever had a good chance to lift the World Cup, it is now. More than it has ever had since the year I was born (1983). Point to note, even then, it was not considered as a side that could lift the coveted Prudential. However, in hindsight our “gifted” commentators and analysts can do all – derive strengths (that were not), admonish weaknesses, create opportunities (and Gods) and tell off threats in a manner most convincing!

Our bowling attack is relatively no better or worse; while comparing with our past let’s save for aberrations like Kumble we have been lucky to have in the recent times. To put it more aptly, it is in a confused state. Spinners don’t deliver, part-time bowlers contribute brilliantly (read Yuvraj) and what did you say.. pace.. eh what? In my opinion the only one in decent and consistent form is Zak. He may not have peaked (in his captain’s words) but he hasn’t failed so far either. Chawla got plain lucky when Dhoni decided to give him one more chance and play against the Dutch. I hope Dhoni puts Ashwin to test in our next games instead of Chawla. That would be an indication of his gameplan as I see it.

Fielding is something what our players do when they ain’t batting, bowling or warming the benches. I wonder if it means anything beyond this to most of our players. As Dhoni candidly put it after the clash with Ireland, “Our fielding will be the same. Our exceptional fielders can get better but the slow ones will remain slow”.

And finally for Mr. Captain … I believe he is amongst the best and coolest captains India has had, not only by his win ratio but more importantly by the way he uses his head. He has in him what a captain should – he exuberates confidence when he conducts himself (unlike Azhar who learnt by rote what to say in an after match presentation). He understands that each player has a different motivating factor, some need to be provoked to perform; with some others he offloads pressure if required. And if he thinks criticizing the team on national TV for fielding will push them to perform, he has the audacity to do it. He maintains a good balance - shields and exposes his team as he deems fit. In sum, he takes calculated risks and is open to experiments. Sometimes they fail, but he ensures each one takes away a lesson from it.

With this I shall end my long blog and hope that the Men in Blue do indeed peak at the right time. While some of you may call this line of analysis wishful thinking, to each one his own.

Please bring home the coveted cup… !!!