I am still not sold out on India being one of the top teams in this World Cup. True, they have won 5 out of 5 so far, and likely to win the 6th and possibly the 7th match too.
But the only noteworthy victory was against South Africa. We will come to that later.
Despite all the hype surrounding an India-Pak match, the current Pakistan team is not up to a scratch!! They don't have any world class players in their ranks, and are consistently inconsistent. Misbah may be a lone exception, but he is hardly expected to do miracles in one day cricket and Younis Khan is an apology for a ODI cricketer these days, as is Shahid Afridi, or Umar Akmal. Less said about their bowlers the better. And they lost miserably to West Indies, which takes a special effort!
Anyone can beat West Indies these days and even Ireland did, and Zimbabwe gave them a spirited fight. They were thrashed by South Africa who scored 400 plus. So India beating them is no great shakes.
UAE and Ireland are the relative minnows of the world and we were expected to win against them anyway.
This leaves the only creditable victory the one against South Africa. In all fairness we played a good game and they had a bad day. But remember SA are known chokers, and they managed to lose to Pakistan too, quite an achievement.
With Bangladesh expected to be QF opponents, we have a good chance of reaching the Semi Finals.
But one has to admit, that this has been a World Cup of average teams. Australia has a good bowling attack, but their batting is very shaky. Clarke is unfit, Watson a shadow of his former self, and others not quite world class. But their pace attack is top notch with Johnson, Mitchell Start and Cummings.
New Zealand has looked the best team overall, but they have not played outside their Country so far and have exploited their swinging conditions to the hilt. They have struggled to chase down 150 twice, and if McCullum doesn't fire, their batting is in a bit of bother. But they too have a lovely attack with Southee, Boult and Vettori.
Srilankan bowling is woesome, and but for the brilliance of Sangakkara, Mahela and Mathews, they will be easy meat for others
England was pathetic and Bangladesh has punched above their weight. But they had their game against Australia washed out, didn't do well against Srilanka and may well be exposed against New Zealand in the last game.
This is an open World Cup, but a mediocre one.
Just prior to the commencement of the Knock out stage, I would put my money on Australia. They have not peaked yet and they know the conditions well.
