Defeat by Bangladesh could be a disaster

[Nostromo]

The upset by Bangladesh could actually be the first step in India's early exit from the tournament. They now have a mammoth task on hand to qualify.

Let us safely assume that following SL's example, India and Bangladesh are also going to beat Bermuda; India have to also beat Sri Lanka to stay in the tournament; if they do that and Bangladesh too beat Sri Lanka, then India will go through with Bangladesh. But as is likely, if Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh, India can be in a spot of bother even if they beat Sri Lanka themselves. In that scenario, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India will have 4 points each and the run rates will come into play. On that score, SL are well placed, having thrashed Bermuda earlier.

Therefore, the only way that India can be certain of getting through is to go hell for leather against Bermuda on Monday. If India win the toss and bat first, they should post at least 350, preferably close to 400. Then try to get Bermuda out for a sub-100 score so that India's net run rate is above SL. If Bermuda bat first, they have to be dismissed quickly and the target chased with a high RPO. After all that, they still have to beat SL in the final group match to qualify.

The trouble is, Bangadesh also know all this and will try hard to do very well against Bermuda themselves. On top of all the work we have ahead ourselves, we have to hope that Bangladesh are not as destructive as India against Bermuda.

India have their work cut out.

[Rachael]

Meanwhile.. impartial observers can delight in the prospect of seeing Bangladesh and Ireland progress from the group phase

What concerns me is the possible reaction in India if (as seems likely) the side fails to beat Sri Lanka and makes a swift exit from the group phase...

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by Rachael

What concerns me is the possible reaction in India if (as seems likely) the side fails to beat Sri Lanka and makes a swift exit from the group phase...

That's easy. Effigies of Dravid & Tendulkar being burnt, a few buses set on fire, several shops looted, the odd self-immolation and demands for the Prime Minister to resign. That's all.

[vvvrulz]

Hah well said Nostromo.

India are in one hell of a pickle, and they have no one to blame but themselves. Defeating Sri Lanka is actually looking pretty unlikely in my opinion, judging by the lack of responsibility in their batting shown today.

My real problem is with Virender Sehwag. This is just getting ridiculous. Why do they persevere with a guy who offers nothing but a free wicket. He seems to be inventing new and more outrageous ways to dismiss himself !

Enough is enough, bring Karthik already.

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by vvvrulz

My real problem is with Virender Sehwag. This is just getting ridiculous. Why do they persevere with a guy who offers nothing but a free wicket. He seems to be inventing new and more outrageous ways to dismiss himself !

Agreed. Sehwag must be dropped against Bermuda to give Pathan (and not Karthik, IMO) a chance to get his eye and arm in. It should be Ganguly, Uthappa, Dravid, Tendulkar, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Pathan, Agarkar, Harbhajan, Zaheer and Patel. Pathan cannot be worse than Sehwag on current form with his batting and the former's inclusion adds strength to the bowling attack. As I said before, India really have to get some momentum going with both bat & ball against Bermuda. Otherwise, even beating Sri Lanka might not be enough to get through to the next round. Furthermore, India cannot depend upon the Ten-Wag combo as the fifth bowling option against a strong fellow-subcontinental team like Sri Lanka; they would be taken to the cleaners and beyond.

I still feel Dhoni should come in at No:5 ahead of Yuvraj. Even yesterday against Bangladesh he arrived when India were under pressure to get on with it. This had happened a bit too often to Dhoni - where he is expected to smash his way out of trouble after his predessesors have got the team into it. I say that give him a chance to settle in and then do the hitting. Note how Mark Boucher seems much batter a player at No:5 than at No:7 for South Africa.

[Django]

I am not surprised at the loss. Infact the writing has been on the wall for quite some time now.

The Indian team can consistently come up with winning results only if the following happens:

The cricket board is more organised and takes a more planned approach towards developing the game and developing cricketers in the country. At the moment there is very little planning done for the future of the game - all the emphasis is on making more money out cricket and how to take revenge against previous personnel.

The payments to cricketers should be purely based on performance.

At the moment the cricketers are more concerned about their personal gains for commercial activities rather than cricket. There has to be a shift from this attitude and for this the masses in India, including the media must stop treating these cricketers as superhumans.

In my opinion India is more or less out of this world-cup. A few heads should roll and some tough decisions taken.