LUCKNOW: When the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup schedule was announced in June, one would have looked at October 29 and marked the India-England clash at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on their calendar as a marquee clash – the tournament hosts’ up against the defending champions.
Cut to now and India have very much lived up to the pre-tournament billing of being the hot favourites – winning five out of five matches and looking at a top-two finish in the points table. But the script hasn’t panned out in the way one had it in mind for England, with the reigning champions looking listless in losing four out of five matches and staring at an early exit from the competition.
After unwinding in the cool climes of Dharamshala post a four-wicket triumph over New Zealand at the HPCA Stadium last week, India enter Sunday’s clash by sweating it out in Lucknow for the last two days, with an eye to continue their winning momentum.
Their batters, starting from captain Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper KL Rahul, have been in great form and have stood up to do the job for the team. Jasprit Bumrah has been at his lethal best while spearheading the fast-bowling attack, along with Mohammed Shami leaving an immediate impact with a superb five-wicket haul against New Zealand.
Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have been highly effective in spin bowling department. With Hardik Pandya still unavailable due to a left ankle injury, India may field a playing eleven similar to the one it fielded in Dharamshala. The question of team balance in Hardik’s absence is what the Indian think-tank will be pondering upon in their quest to continue being the only unbeaten side in the tournament.
Hardik’s absence in Dharamshala meant India had to fill the void left by him by bringing in Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami, with Shardul Thakur excluded. If the pitch in Lucknow offers help to spinners, then Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the picture, though it will be interesting to see if India will be fine with fielding only two fast-bowling options.
Apart from this, India also need to be wary about the law of averages catching up with them in the second half of their league stage, with Sri Lanka, South Africa and Netherlands awaiting them after meeting with England in Lucknow. In the victorious 2011 World Cup campaign, India were defeated by South Africa in the second half of their league stage, after being held to a tie by England.
On the other hand, many were awaiting a party of big scores and regular strikes from a star-studded England in the ODI World Cup party. But losses to Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, after a tournament opener defeat to New Zealand, has left their campaign in tatters. IANS
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