Bowling will be India's major worry against England
Five years later, Yuvraj and Broad are different men.
Venue:R. Premadasa stadium, Colombo
Time: 1930 (1400 GMT)
With a history behind and a lot to bury, India and England meet at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
In recent times, the relation between the once-colonized and once-colonial power has only soured. After India’s humiliating defeat in England, the rivalry stretched to the return tour. But there’s still lot to prove for both the sides. Sri Lanka being a neutral venue might provide the platform for things to even out.
Subcontinental pitches have always favored Asian teams. Still this time with a toothless bowling attack and their opening pair out of form, things look gloomier for India.
Neither Irfan Pathan nor Balaji have done anything notable on their comeback, and Ashoke Dinda looks more like a stop-gap arrangement in wait for someone to rise from somewhere and fill the gap. With Zaheer Khan’s resources dwindling things look ominous for India.
It is heartening to see that he has his captain’s backing. Dhoni came out in support of the ageing strike bowler saying, “He is the Sachin for us when it comes to the bowling department. He has led our attack for the last few years; he has been our best bowler whatever the format. Maybe in the last few games he has not got the wickets be it Test cricket, ODIs or T20.” But the real threat for Zaheer is his body language. He looks tired from the very beginning of his spell and gives the impression that he is forcibly carrying on.
India’s spin bowling too – barring Ashwin who has now become an essential member for the T20s – has been clueless ever since the departure of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan’s falling out of favor.
There are few positives in the batting like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni’s form, but these alone can’t pull India to the finishing lap.
England who are fresh from a comprehensive victory certainly look the better side on logic. Their bowling attack which is currently only second to South Africa, gives them a clear edge over their opponents.
Luke Wright’s unbeaten 99 in the previous match has lent their batting the confidence that there is life beyond Kevin Pietersen. Although no one from the squad might be able to match KP on the basis of pure talent, but on temperament this young team has shown they are very much equal.
Lastly, however ‘useless’ game this might be, this will make both the teams aware of the ground they are standing on.
Head-to-Head: 3-1 England
India and England have met each other four times in the WorldT20. England have won three of the encounters with one match going in India’s favor.
In the WorldT20 ’07, Yuvraj Singh had hit Stuart Broad for six maximums in an over. Life has changed for both since then. While Yuvraj has gone on to become one of the most dependable members of his side, Broad is now England’s captain in this format having proved his excellence in every version of the game.
Players to watch out for:
India
Virat Kohli is the most prolific batsman in world cricket today
Virat Kohli:From being the best young cricketer, Kohli has graduated to become the most prolific player in world cricket today. He has continued his good form to this tournament and it is largely due to his half-century in the previous match that India could avoid a shameful defeat.
Yuvraj Singh: After making a solid statement with a three-wicket haul in the last match against Afghanistan, Yuvraj will look to revive memories of five years ago. There is still scope to recover from the career-threatening cancer that had kept him away from the game for quite some time, but the hunger to perform is very much there.
Ravichandran Ashwin: It is very unlikely that we will remember Ashwin to be a spin bowling legend, but at least in limited-overs’ cricket he has filled in that large void. An accurate bowler and a very capable batsman down the order; he is a gem for T20 cricket.
England
Jonny Bairstow: After making a solid ODI debut against the same opposition, Bairstow will look to make it count against India again. With Pietersen’s comeback always looking just around the corner, he knows there’s much competition going on inside the team. A player of unquestionable promise, he is aware of the repercussions of failure.
Luke Wright: Fresh from an excellent outing against Afghans, Wright will look to emulate his feat against the Indians. A better bowling and a much better fielding attack will test his true character. But Wright’s last innings was no fluke and most of his shots were well-composed. We are yet to see him chip in with some wickets, this time maybe?
Stuart Broad: Five years after that nightmarish over, Broad is a different man. Having conquered this same opponent with bat and ball at home, revenge will be the last thing playing on his mind. Yet the sight of a tired and worn out Yuvraj might be too hard to resist for this 26-year-old.
Weaknesses
India’s bowling will again be a major cause of worry. With some bounce off the surface, the top order might struggle like it did against Afghanistan.
England will face a much better batting attack then it did in their last match, and their bowlers will hopefully be tested.
Strength
Virat Kohli is currently the most dependable batsman in the world.
England’s bowling is certainly superior to that of India.
Possible eleven
India: 1. Virender Sehwag, 2. Gautam Gambhir, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Yuvraj Singh, 5. Suresh Raina, 6. Rohit Sharma, 7. MS Dhoni (capt &wk), 8. R Ashwin, 9. Irfan Pathan, 10. Zaheer Khan, 11. Harbhajan Singh.
England: 1. Craig Kieswetter (wk), 2. Alex Hales, 3. Luke Wright, 4. Eoin Morgan, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Jos Buttler, 7. Samit Patel, 8. Stuart Broad (capt.), 9. Graeme Swann, 10. Steven Finn, 11. Jade Dernbach.
Prediction
Although England looks a way better team, India won’t be an easy opposition to tackle in the conditions in which they had lifted the ODI world cup a year ago.