ICC World T20 2016: Why the loss against New Zealand at Nagpur can auger well for India
First things first, there is no denying the fact that India’s blatant capitulation in their first match against the inexperienced spin attack of New Zealand is something to despise. But being an ardent Indian cricket fan and more importantly, a passionate follower of the game, I dare to say that all is not lost for the Men in Blue and the loss against the Black Caps might have come just at the right time.
The Indian team had won 11 out of their last 12 T20 games courtesy of clinical performances against Australia, where the blue brigade became the first team to whitewash Australia in Australia, the thumping of Sri Lankans in the hastened T20 series at home and the near perfect show in the inaugural curtailed version of the Asia Cup.
It seemed they couldn’t put a foot wrong all along. Thus, entering the world T20 as the numero uno side and the hot favorites to win the coveted title. That is, until their Super 10 opener match against the New Zealand.
The New Zealand team, sans Brendon McCullum, was in for an uphill task facing the experienced Indian spinners on one of the most unpredictable pitches in the subcontinent, Nagpur. Keeping in mind the recent defeat against the young Sri Lankan pace attack on a green pitch, the curator might have been asked to prepare a turning track which ultimately proved to be India’s own undoing.
Williamson’s ploy to drop the duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult worked wonders for the Black Caps as India's apparently foolproof bunsen burner experiment blew up in their face in Nagpur. It resurfaced the memories of the 2nd Test match between India and England in 2012, where the Indians ordered a turning track and were served with the same, only for the duo of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann to outfox the Indian lineup, handing the game on a platter for the English.
Flat Pitches
Coming back to the game against New Zealand, the defeat could, in fact, be a blessing in disguise for the Indians who were riding high on the back of back to back series wins in the last 2 months or so. The equation for the Indians has become quite simple now; they have to win all their three remaining games against Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Australia with some acquiescence from the rain Gods (since a washout could quite possibly end India’s chances to qualify for the semifinals).
Indians are might still be considered the best players of spin in the world now but the fact that the next three games will be played on absolutely flat pitches of Kolkata, Bangalore, and Mohali, would bring a smile on the face of Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma, who would be raring to make amends for the madness they displayed on a turning Nagpur track.
Whilst Mohali and Bangalore have witnessed many a high scoring matches in the past in the IPL, Kolkata has just Pakistan tonk the first 200 of the tournament. Adding to this would be the huge experience all the Indian players of having played in closely contested matches on these pitches in the IPL
Captain Cool to the fore
It is not the first time that MS Dhoni has been found caught in such a situation. Having had the honorable distinction of leading India in all the 6 editions of the T20 WC, Dhoni has mastered the art of handling pressure. There have been numerous occasions in the IPL as well as the international arena when he has bailed the team out of such testing situations.
And the fact that he has done it over and over again gives me the luxury of placing my bet on him to be the savior once again. In the last couple of months, it looks like Mahi has found his Midas touch back, where nearly nothing has gone wrong for the Indian captain in the shorter formats. His bowling changes, field placements, changes in the batting order, all have started yielding results, obviously barring the game against New Zealand.
The run machine awakens?
Another positive that the Indian team can look forward to is the fine form of Virat Kohli. The Indian team captain in the longest format of the game has been in spectacular form in the last one year. It is rare that we see him failing in consecutive innings and the team management would bank on him to take the team across the line this time around. The best thing about an in-form Kohli is that he paces his innings so well that the opposition doesn't even get a sniff of the game drifting away from them.
Weakness turned to strength
The bowling unit looks settled with all the bowlers executing their plans to perfection. The same was on display on Tuesday when the bowling unit had put up a great show by restricting the Black Caps to a modest total of 126 with even the part timers contributing in the wickets column. With Jasprit Bumrah executing his yorkers to perfection and with deadly consistency, the death bowling issue looks to be resolved for now. It is only the batting that needs to step up to exhibit an all-round show by the team. As a matter of fact, the Indian batsman should be raring to prove that they are still the favorites to win the tournament.
Crowd support to the rescue
In India, people practice cricket as a religion. In spite of the embarrassing defeat in the Super 10 opener, the Indian team still enjoys the support of a billion people who will be cheering for their team to do well in all the upcoming matches. There would be prayers prayed, vows sought and all the jinxes kept out of sight; all with the sole purpose of seeing their team win the coveted title for the second time.
With all cricket grounds having large capacities, the Indian team, on the back of strong performances, should use the crowd support to their advantage in order to intimidate the opposition and thereby already winning half the battle.
The Record Books should help
The Indian team also enjoys a very good record against all its remaining Group 2 opponents. A 5-1 (win-loss) record against arch rivals Pakistan, a 4-0 record against Bangladesh and an 8-4 one against the mighty Australians. This would surely have a psychological impact on the mindset of all the opposition teams.
All in all, one wouldn’t have asked for a better weekend with the wounded Indians locking horns with arch-rivals Pakistan at the packed Eden Gardens stadium with a capacity of 69000 odd spectators, the majority of whom will be cheering for the Men in Blue.