The Indian team, being talked about as strong favourites to lift the 2011 World Cup, has announced their squad. Twenty-eight years ago, in 1983, they lifted the World Cup under the captaincy of Kapil Dev. The big question on everyone's mind is whether this team, from a nation where cricket is more of a religion, can lift the coveted Cup again before their home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2.
In 1983, the team did not carry the burden of hope from the millions of cricket fans. Every match won was seen as yet another stunning performance. And by the time they reached the semifinals, the team was known as the Kapil Devils.
Is the present squad capable of terrorising the strongest of opponents as in 1983? To play and win with the tag of ‘favourites' is not easy. Every team's focus will be on the strengths and weakness of their players. The selectors could not have picked a better side. The only surprise was the inclusion of Piyush Chawla, who hasn't played One-day cricket since 2008. Exclusion of Rohit Sharma and S. Sreesanth too was debated, but fortunately did not blow up into a huge hue and cry in a country where everyone has strong opinions about every player. The fact that the rising food and petrol prices in the country continued to attract the main attention suggested the Indian selectors have done a satisfactory job.
Biggest challenge
This World Cup will be the biggest challenge that Dhoni would have ever faced in his career. He lifted the Twenty20 World Cup at a time when Indians were not favourites and this format was yet to become popular among people.
Expectations from fans can put pressure on any player. It is here that Dhoni will have to play a big role like Kapil Dev did in 1983. He must lead from the front by firing with the bat up the batting order. A few Dhoni-style innings can inspire the others too and spread fear among the opponents.
He is not a mere hard hitter but someone who can finish off the game in style. Unfortunately, one hasn't seen such knocks from his bat for long, making one wonder whether captaincy has curbed his natural batting skills.
The big factor differentiating the winner from the loser will be the team's on-field performance. And for this, every player must feel confident that they are a force to be reckoned with, capable of subduing any opponent. This aura must first be created by Dhoni through his performance.