You can hear a certain buzz
growing louder in the small dusty by-lanes of Mumbai. It’s T20 time. Hey I am
not referring to the battle tank. Its cricket, the gentleman’s game. But hold
on, the World T20 Cup is by no means less than a battle for glory and pride.
Ask the boy who wields his willow like a battle axe at Oval Maidan. Right from
big corporate honchos to the kids in the slums will tune in from
The colosseum is ready to erupt to life
16 teams will be vying for the
coveted trophy. Teams like Afghanistan, Ireland, Oman, Hong Kong, Netherlands
and Scotland have the opportunity to showcase their mettle. They may not have
superstars among their ranks but their self-belief cannot be questioned. The
twenty-20 format gives them the license to throw caution to the winds and bat
without fear. It will be trial by fire for the minnows of the cricketing world.
And then there are the big boys
of the game where the battle turns into an all-or-nothing war. Friends turn
foes, mentees turn protégés, boys become men. Each player wears his country’s
pride as he walks onto the field. Each team has superstars and superstars
in-the-making. Let’s take a look at the teams.
Grounded eagles
A team with potential but without
killer punch. Zimbabwe’s story is a team of have’s and have not’s. Guided by
Dav Whatmore who led Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup victory, Zimbabwe could make
it past the group stage but further progress will depend on their mental
strength and self-belief.
Tigers on the prowl
Filled with enthusiasm and
bustling with talent, the Bangladeshi’s have the ability to humiliate any big
team on its day. These guys believe in their cricket and they have shown it on
a number of occasions. They resemble the Sri Lanka of early ‘90s. Best case
scenario: Semifinals.
No chin music?
A star studded team brimming with
talent. The Kangaroos are made of champion stuff. But will they deliver when it
matters the most? They have been accused of not taking the shortest form of the
game too seriously. Is that true? Or is it just that the Aussies have failed to
learn a trick or two? Despite their not so impressive performance against India
(at home), the Warners, Baileys and Maxwells will be keen on proving their worth.
Cup favorites.
Black widows
The Black Caps are one of the
favourites of this tournament. Can they play spin as good as their Trans Tasman
counterparts? We’ll see. They will be playing without the Maverick Mccullum.
The Kiwis possess one of the most potent bowling attacks in the game. They have
an agile fielding unit and their batting prowess in the shortest form of the
game is well known. Boult and Henry can be a handful on their days. Their
ability to adapt to the slow pitches of India will be the key to their success.
This team is brimming with
champions led by the daredevil Devilliers. A formidable batting lineup backed
by a disciplined bowling unit. But the springboks can deliver the knockout
punch when it matters the most? They are big favourites. Imran Tahir will be
keen on exploiting the conditions suited to his bowling and Rabada will be
eager to showcase his skills. The million dollar man Millers will be the man to
watch out for.
Calypso beats
A team that suffers from identity
crisis. That’s how I would sum up the Caribbeans. They are not short of talent
but they lack cohesiveness and the hunger to win big games. They are no
pushovers though. A semifinal berth is expected. Can they put their petty
issues and egos aside and play as a team? Only time will tell. Will the Gayle
force come alive? Let’s wait and watch.
Scoop it up
The slinger is back and so is the
swagger. Yes I am talking about the dynamic duo of Lasith Malinga and Tilakaratne
Dilshan. The current world champions have their task cut out without Sanga and
Jaya. They have an able leader in Mathews. This is a young team that is
struggling to fit into some very big shoes. They are familiar with the playing
conditions and that could play to their advantage.
Root-ed in fundamentals
Over the last 1 year the Poms
have played some truly outstanding cricket. A well-knit unit with all round
abilities this team has been overcoming one hurdle after another. Ahh wait.
Isn’t spin the old nemesis of English cricketers? It will be interesting to see
how the likes of Joe Root and Jos Butler tackle spin and uneven bounce on tricky
Indian pitches. However, Moeen Ali will find himself at home in otherwise alien
conditions to his colleagues.
Boom boom! Bang bang!
Once regarded as the sultans of
swing bowling, the green shirts do not strike fear in the opposing bastmen
anymore with their bowling. Led by the flamboyant Afridi (in possibly his last
T20 appearance), the Pakistanis can be a surprise package. They always have
been. Sami is back and so is Amir. They have plenty of experience to bring back
home the coveted title. The dark horses of the tournament.
Spitting cobra
Indians are firm favorites of the
tournament. Batting is their strength and bowling their weakness. However, they
are playing in their own backyard. The last time India played at home in a
multination event they became the world champions. In Jadeja, the team has arguably
possesses the world’s best fielder. Dhoni himself has been electrifying behind
the stumps. Ashwin has been bowling the right length. Overall a team to beat
for the rest.
Having said enough, it will be nothing
short of a carnival atmosphere in India as the T20 matches roll on. Everybody
will be talking, breathing and living cricket for 26 days. Let the games begin
first.
Till then dasvidaniya.
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