India at T20 World Cup teaser: Hunger to succeed will

[1]

This T20 World Cup looks wide open with India slight favourites in terms or odds and sentiment. But you could throw a blanket of even terms over the next seven teams with New Zealand and Bangladesh being the outsiders. Whatever else can be said about Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe, they cannot win the big thing.

It will however be quite interesting to observe whether the minnows, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe are more competitive in the T20 than in the 50-over format.

There is a very good chance that in T20 games such as India versus Afghanistan will be more interesting in T20 than in 50 over form.

The toughest group is that of Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh where one of those teams will miss out making it to the Super Eights.

All the other favourite sides should make it comfortably through the group stages unless the weather intervenes.

India’s success appears to depend on how desperate they are to win the cup. Can they match the intensity of their long journey in the 2011 World Cup where it seemed almost imperative for the team and nation that they prevail?

In those tough and defining moments of tournament play, it is this hunger and desire that can carry you through those moments of crisis. In my time as coach with the team, the biggest enemy at various times seemed to be success.

Any major win or forward step of progress seemed to be followed by a period of time where our results were mixed. It wasn’t until we found ourselves in the situation of having to win a game from all the outside pressures that our quality of play would pick up.

Among India’s main opponents, three teams stand out in terms of hunger and desire. South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh have never won a World Cup of any significance (This is outside the Champions Trophy which is now on its last legs).

Bringing home the trophy would have real meaning for those three countries. You can add to them by including Sri Lanka.

There is nothing more motivating than playing in front of your own fans. One of the reasons in sport of the advantage in playing at home is not just about geography.

Yes, you will get to sleep in your own bed and you will know every blade of grass on your territory and how the wicket plays and where the wind blows, but the main factor in home games is that you are playing in front of your own. They haven’t come to watch you fail and if they do they will let you know.

Failure in performance is recognised more personally at home so Sri Lanka will be proud and primed.
Of the rest, Australia will compete hard because they of all teams are the most consistent day-in, day-out competitors whatever and wherever they play.

Pakistan seem more organised these days and dangerous with momentum and as we all know, tough for any Indian side to beat.

England seem to have a bit much going on off the stage with the Kevin Pietersen shenanigans. They may miss his runs but they won’t miss him and his puerile texting.

That leaves the West Indians. T20 almost seems to have been invented for these outrageously talented strikers of a cricket ball.

Their bowling is patchy and their eventual success may depend upon the effectiveness of their mystery spinner, Sunil Narine.