Mumbai: While fans’ best wishes accompanied with historical evidence and Team India’s batting, bowling and fielding give it a fine chance to defend the World Cup title they won four years ago, here are some cheeky factors that can lead India to their third World Cup triumph.
Ravi Shastri's in-house commentary:
Call Ravi Shastri lucky or call it the broadcasters’ masterstroke to bring him behind the microphone when Team India is about to create history; be it the 2007 World T20 win, World Cup 2011 triumph, Yuvraj Singh smashing 6 sixes in an over or Robin Uthappa ‘deserving dosa’ after hitting Stuart Broad in the 2007 bi-lateral series. The man has been there and voiced that.
While he won’t be holding the mic and going berserk, he, being the Team Director can provide some in-house commentary; if he is already not. And for players’ benefit, they need not watch who spoke what as Mr. Shastri; the man of the big moments would be doing all the talking from a few metres away. Can anyone already hear, and ‘India lift the World Cup. Take a bow, champions?’
Ishant Sharma not leaking runs:
To Ishant Sharma’s credit, his absence due to injury is felt at the World Cup 2015. His critics may be quick to jump in and say by the opposition. Without offending him or his followers, (not just on Twitter) his ‘up for grabs’ place is taken by his surname’s sake and he has done a fine job, not just with the bowling but also with his fielding.
Yes (partial) to Kohli going mad, strict no-no to he going mad with Anushka:
India’s former coach Gary Kirsten did not mind players enjoying a good time with wife or girlfriend ahead of big games and much water has flown under the bridge’. barring the Indian Cricket Board’s stand on the issue.
Watch: How Virat Kohli was at 18?
Although BCCI were fine (initially) with Anushka Sharma accompanying Virat Kohli during India’s tour of England, the version of this stand shuffled more than Kevin Pietersen would in the crease as the tour progressed and Kohli's form dipped.
(Photo: AP)
While the BCCI seem to have accepted Virat will go mad time and again, they are doing their best to make sure he does not go mad with Ms. Sharma on the tours; at least till their stand on WAGs changes.
Read: Of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma; how Ravi Shastri mentored Team India
No hard feeling towards Anushka Sharma, she in her own rights has done a fine job in her career without having any godfather in the field, but quite a few Indian fans must be waiting to associate her absence with India’s World Cup win Down Under. If that happens, they better thank BCCI though.
(Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
Let's talk about stats:
While the MS Dhoni-led think tank is averse to carrying oldies, they have stuck with one man through thick and a lot of thin (defeats in Australia, England and New Zealand), he is none other than Duncan Fletcher.
(Photo: BCCI)
While England (his former employer) is fond of 'data and laptops' over common-sense and effectivity, the Indians (or let's be a bit all-inclusive and say, Asians) are fond of numbers; Tendulkar's 100 hundreds, Kumble's 10-wicket haul in an innings etc, they can definitely win the World Cup for a coach instead of winning it for a player.
Talk about Indian culture which is high on respecting the seniors.
