Cricket World Cup 2015 – Team India group stage predictions

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  • Firm favourites: Expectations are as high as ever for India.

    As Team India rejuvenate and recuperate in the Australian wilderness, let’s take a look at how the defending champions will perform against their opponents in Pool B at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. But firstly, three important players who could all feature in the playing XI namely – Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (ankle), R Jadeja (shoulder) and Rohit Sharma (hamstring) are nursing injuries at the moment. The team management has set a deadline on February 7 when these players will undergo a rigorous fitness test, a day before their practice match against Australia.

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    The recent tour of Australia was India’s worst ever overseas and it could only get worse with injury concerns, negativity amongs the ranks and added pressure that usually follows the Indians wherever they go. Luckily, India won’t be tormented by Mitchell Johnson or James Anderson but still need to face the menacing Dale Steyn in the Group stage. Moreover, they have enough time between each fixture to rest, practice and prepare.

    India vs Pakistan – Adelaide Oval – February 15 – Winner – India

    According to reports, tickets for this nail-biting clash were sold out within 20 minutes. The rivalry goes way beyond the cricket fields and fans won’t bother if their team crashes out early as long as they beat their fiercest rivals; such is the meaning of this match. India will be confident having never lost a World Cup game to Pakistan, but this particular clash between the two neighbors can throw up many surprises. The last time these two sides met at the Adelaide Oval in January 2000, India won by 48 runs thanks to Sourav Ganguly’s 141 and Anil Kumble’s 4/40. Overall, India has won 4 out of the 7 games against Pakistan in Australia since February 1985. Currently, teams have been struggling with Pakistan losing 2-0 against co-hosts New Zealand after series defeats to the Kiwis and Australia in the UAE. Form and figures regularly mean little in the cauldron of a India vs Pakistan derby, however.

    South Africa vs India – MCG – February 22 – Winner – South Africa

    Considering their recent form and familiarity with conditions in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa are clear favourites to top the Group. In fact, The Proteas are tipped to reach the last-four alongside Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. India’s batsmen tend to struggle while facing the new ball and that was obvious when they toured South Africa in December 2013. In both ODIs played, India’s top order collapsed and ended up losing by huge margins. South Africa recently thrashed the West Indies at home but they too suffered a 4-1 ODI series loss Down Under in November 2014. Meanwhile, India can avoid defeat if they fend off early blows from Steyn and restrict AB de Villiers.

    India vs UAE – Perth – February 28 – Winner – India

    With one win and a loss, India travel to Perth to face minnows UAE, who make their second appearance at the mega event after a gap of 19 years. For India, this should be a walk in the park and a great chance to test the bench and also recover from the loss to South Africa. These two sides have met only twice before, India coming out on top in both occasions. For the UAE, the World Cup is the best platform for the future development of cricket in the country and having lost only a single game to Scotland in the Qualifiers, the team will be buzzing with confidence.

    India vs West Indies –Perth – March 6 – Winner – India

    With the respective cricketing boards going through several legal issues, the respective players will be geared up to win at all costs. West Indies have left out key players Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard and the odds are against them when they face the defending champions. Since February 2012, West Indies have lost 6 out of the last 9 matches against India. During that same period, the Caribbean giants have failed to make any sort of an impact against top-ranked teams, losing to England, India and, most recently, South Africa. The last time India faced the Windies at the WACA was back in December 1991, when the match ended in a thrilling draw. Overall, India lead with 2 wins in 3 matches played in Australia.

    India vs Ireland – Hamilton – March 10 – Winner – India

    By now India should have sealed qualification into the quarter-finals having won 3 games already. Their clash against surprise package Ireland should guarantee their passage if not, as team management determines the perfect starting XI and combination for the rest of the tournament. This match won’t be straightforward, however, with Ireland taking names at previous World Cups. The first team to fall prey was Pakistan during the 2007 tournament, while rivals England were well beaten in the previous edition. India, too, played Ireland in 2011 but comfortably won by 5 wickets. In their first and only other game, India won by 9 wickets in June 2007 at Belfast.

    India vs Zimbabwe – Auckland – March 14 – Winner – India

    Having sealed qualification, India will have plenty of time to ponder about their next opponent. But a win against Zimbabwe will be their utmost priority to carry forward the positive mentality onto the next stage. India played their first ever match against Zimbabwe during the triumphant 1983 World Cup in England. The first was a comfortable chase but the second game has certainly gone down in history books after skipper Kapil Dev (175*) single handedly carried India to a challenging target of 266 having lost 5 wickets for just 17 runs. Overall, Zimbabwe has won 10 out of 56 games (2 draws) against India and also won 10 out of 51World Cup matches, mostly against the non-Test playing nations.

    India Pool B Prediction – P6 W5 D0 L1 – 10 pts – Potential opponents in quarter-finals – Sri Lanka or England. 

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