Seems like yesterday, doesn't it? The comedy of errors at the toss, Zaheer's maidens, Jayawardene's hundred, Malinga's burst, Gambhir's grit, Dhoni's bravado, Tendulkar's dream...more than 43 months have passed since Team India captured our collective consciousness by exorcising 28 years of pain on that fateful night. As the Wankhede Stadium, and the many thousands in it, enjoyed their date with destiny, Indians of all ages and economic backgrounds rejoiced like never before. It was one hell of a party, and it didn't matter if you were uninvited. It was a revelry like no other.
A lot of water has flown through the Arabian Sea since Mahendra Singh Dhonilaunched Nuwan Kulasekara into the Sachin Tendulkar Stand on April 2 three years ago. So, what's changed? Eight players who featured in the final against Sri Lanka are no longer in the scheme of things. That said, the apprentices have matched their heroes stroke for stroke, ball for ball and catch for catch. Some, like Michael Vaughan, have even dared to label the present bunch better than the world-beating 'Class of 2011'.
And why not? Their home record in ODIs is as enviable as one may think. They may be learning the ropes in overseas Tests but, when it comes to the 50-over game, not many can question Dhoni's boys. After a glorious outing in the ICC Champions Trophy (often called the mini-World Cup) with a cent per cent record last June, India reversed the scoreline after the 1-3 drubbing in the Test series ODI in England earlier this year.
Which brings us to the question: how ready are India to repeat the magic of 2011? According to British bookmaker Ladbrokes, India are second only to co-hosts Australia on the favourites' list. Perhaps, a small matter of four Tests against — who else — Australia and a tri-series, also involving England, will render Dhoni & Co. battle-weary when the World Cup kicks off on Valentine's Day.
The last time India toured Australia, in 2011-12, it hastened the end of two batting legends. That's what Australia takes out of you. The battle doesn't start on field; it actually commences at the airport. The Australian media, an extended family of the national team, is always there to hound you.
Once when an England team touched down in Australia, the local media 'gifted' them copies of how to play the game. The meticulously-prepared sheets had outrageous details — the game is played between 22 yards with a bat and a leather ball, an over comprises six deliveries et al. Only recently, The Courier Mail carried a special feature on Stuart Broad. "He doesn't walk, but he sure talks a good game. Yet lift the covers and you'll find STUART FRAUD," it read.
If you are a visiting cricketer, then Australia's summer is anything but Bondi Beach, Swan Valley, Eyre Peninsula or the Great Barrier Reef. It ain't glorious.
Be it Mitchell Johnson's thunderbolts or David Warner's undying will to attack, the pressure will be just unrelenting. Make no mistake, India should not be fooled by Australia's capitulation to Pakistan. At home, much like Dhoni's boys, the Aussies are an impregnable force.
The general apprehension is that India might start the tour battle-hardened but could be jaded just before the tournament that really matters. Living out of a suitcase is arduous enough; doing it for four months at a stretch can be back-breaking. And you can't let your form drop even once.
Playing the Tests first is the most grueling part. Think of the scale of challenge. In order to even compete against Australia, you ought to win at least one session in a day. As evident in England, India do not react well to a long Test tour. And a confidence-deflating Test series can serve as an unwelcome baggage before the World Cup.
Spare a thought for Dhoni, Virat Kohli and their workload. Bound to play every match and deliver all the same, they could be under a lot of pressure as the marquee event comes calling. And it needn't be reiterated that such a long tour seldom gives cricketers the breathing space to look inward or think about their game going into a tournament of such magnitude. And how ever are India's fast medium-pacers going to be fresh and eager?
That's what happened when India toured Australia in 1992. Having lost four Tests and the tri-series final to the hosts, Mohammad Azharuddin was left picking up the pieces of a scarred unit that had lost the imagination, desire and will to win. It came as no surprise that India didn't even make the semifinal of the ensuing World Cup.
Director of cricket Ravi Shastri has been assigned the task to keep India's zeal intact and chin high. Shastri will give the hugs, pats and pep talks, but what about the man commanding the ship? As captain of the defending champions, the pressure on Dhoni is unquantifiable. In England, he was reduced to being a goalkeeper behind the sticks. His wicketkeeping had clearly dropped off. Will he be flexible enough to share the big gloves with the reserve stumper on the Australian tour, even if occasionally? And where will be the World Cup leave him? That page is waiting to be written.
It is imperative that the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina continue the good work of the last two years. Throw in the brilliance of Kohli and the cool head of Dhoni, and you have a seemingly unbreakable batting line-up. With a combined experience of more than 800 ODIs, several thousand runs at an awe-inspiring strike-rate and an insatiable hunger for success, not many will bet against this array of batsmen. This was the case in 2011 too. Call it India's proud tradition. And the fact that the ICC may — unofficially, of course — call for batsmen-friendly wickets augurs well for India.
Now, onto to the more difficult question. Who will lead India's attack at the World Cup? Are your thoughts are straying. Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Mohammad Shami? But aren't Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, two bowlers who hit the deck, better suited for Australia. There's Ishant Sharma too. Isn't he the most experienced of the lot in the absence of Zaheer Khan?
It's an irony of sorts that India still haven't identified their strike bowler for the World Cup. Shami, with his pace and nip, is probably the man, but he's a slow learner whose economy rate hardly inspires. Yadav has blown hot and cold for way too long. And Aaron has just been ruled out of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka with an injury. Kumar's natural full-length deliveries may not always be conducive to the hard decks in Australia, but he could be extremely useful in New Zealand. Despite his constant failure to deliver at the death, Sharma is probably the one India may turn to.
During the 2011 World Cup, Gary Kirsten had admitted that bowling wasn't India's strong suit. In Indian conditions, brilliance in batting and tidy work by the spin trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and not more than two of Amit Mishra, Karn Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could off-set that limitation. Four years ago, India had a bowling mentor in Zaheer. His experience will be sorely missed this time. But, then, isn't the World Cup all about heroes?
Back in 1992, when Australia and New Zealand last hosted the quadrennial extravaganza, the world witnessed cricketers in coloured clothing for the first time. This time, it promises to a riot of all things colourful. South Africa made a much-awaited return to the global stage, and their cricket was enterprising and inspiring in equal measure. Will they, after so so many forgettable hiccups, unlearn the art of choking? The Benson and Hedges World Cup, as it was then called, also witnessed the birth of the pinch-hitter and spinner-with-the-new ball. So, what's new this time?
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