Make Way, Virat's Here!

When he walked in to bat at Hobart, Indian team was precariously placed at 86 for 2 chasing 320 off 40 overs to win a bonus point and stay alive in the CB Series. He had already made a name for himself by then. With eight hundreds in his kitty in ODIs and his maiden test hundred coming against Australia a month back in Brisbane. Much was expected of him at Hobart. He was expected to support Gambhir and ensure India at least made a fight of it. He did just that and more. He smashed one of the most brutal centuries seen in recent times baring Watson's 185 against Bangladesh. He carted Lasith Malinga for 24 off an over. He scored 133 off 86 balls and India defeated Sri Lanka well within 40 overs and earned the bonus point. Though India got eliminated as Lanka trounced Australia in the following game, India had earned some pride from Kohli's knock and the resultant victory. Things around him began to change. He was named vice captain of the Indian ODI side for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, a huge promotion for a 23 year old. Fans and supporters have begun to see him as a senior member in the team. He obviously has cemented his place in the side and dismissed competition from his closest rivals Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary.

Come Asia Cup, he alongside Gambhir put on another 200+ stand against Sri Lanka, got to his 10th century and guided India to another win. But what he has done today is magical. After the loss versus Bangladesh, India had to win against Pakistan. Bowlers gave away as many as 329 and Pakistanis made merry of the listless attack. A defeat loomed large. Defeat would've meant elimination. Kohli had different ideas. He, alongside Tendulkar, after Gambhir early exit, put on 133 and in quick time too.  Post Tendulkar's dismissal, Kohli built another fabulous partnership with Rohit Sharma. Both looked to play risk free cricket. Runs came freely. Rohit grew in confidence in Kohli's company and got himself a well made 68. But Kohli on the other end was exhilarating. When bowlers bowled length, he flayed them. If they bowled short, he pulled them. On occasions where they bowled tight, he was at ease while stealing singles too. Score of 330 was overhauled by the Indian with comfortable ease. Kohli scored a magnificent 183 off 148 balls. It's the 5th highest score ever by an Indian in ODIs. Pakistan captain Misbah termed it as one of the best innings he has ever seen. 

In the partnership with Tendulkar today and with Gambhir against Sri Lanka at Dhaka and Hobart, he was the dominant partner. Probably a sign of things to come. He has now taken over the mantle of being India's most consistent and talented batsman in ODIs. His runs tally since 2009 would point towards a batsman who is desperate to prove his worth and has done it flawlessly. 85 matches old in ODIs, Kohli has already registered 11 centuries. Put in perspective of the best ODI batsman ever, Tendulkar scored his first hundred in his 78th match and had 2 hundreds when he had played 85 matches. Kohli is racing ahead of his counterparts from other countries and is now surely THE most exciting young player in international cricket. 

Many more big things await the youngster. He is clearly being trained as a future captain of the side. When India goes into World Cup 2015 in Australia - New Zealand, he is expected to be the mainstay of the Indian batting. Much is said about his temperament and his tendency to spew profanities on field. To me, it's an expression of achievement or frustration of a 23 year old which isn't to be taken that seriously. He is a quick learner, he realises his responsibilities and will mature into a better player and would learn to control his desire to express himself openly. 

Asian Giants Chase The World Cup Dream

After 1987 and 1996, this is the third World Cup to be held in the subcontinent. And in both the earlier Cups at least two teams from the subcontinent have made it to the semi finals and on one occasion even won it (Sri Lanka in 1996). Since 1996, at least one team from the sub continent has reached the finals of the Cup only to be beaten convincingly by Australia. Pakistan in 1999, after splendid performances upto the finals played terribly to lose by 9 wickets in the finals to Steve Waugh determined team. India was in ominous in the 2003 edition till the finals, not losing a single game except for their group match loss to Australia. But lost steam and plot to lose the finals by a huge margin. In 2007, Sri Lanka surely didn’t look like the best team to win the cup, yet reached the finals, a spectacular Gilchirst took the game away from them single handedly.

Pakistan as usual don’t come into the World Cup as favourites. They have come in as the most mercurial underdogs. As their captain courageous has been recently quoted, they are “the most dangerous team” this World Cup. The team has a good mix of youth and experience. Bowling attack is lead by the very experienced and fiery Shoaib Akhtar and supported by Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and less known Junaid Khan. Spin bowling department is headed by the specialist Saeed Ajmal who will be a handful on subcontinent wickets with his nippy offerings. Shahid Afridi and Mohammed Hafeez are expected to bowl a lot on these pitches. Batting looks quite stable, yet vulnerable. A lot will depend on the Akmal brothers, Younis Khan, Misbah if Pakistan are to put up and chase down big totals.

Bangladesh comes into this World Cup more confident than they have ever been. A 4-0 rout of New Zealand must be by far their best achievement in international cricket. Their captain Shaki Al Hasan is in terrific form with both bat and ball. Tamim Iqbal. Imrul Kayes and Shahriar Nafees are the top order batsman the co hosts will depend on. Tamim is expected to flourish on the big stage. He is someone to keep an eye on for the future. Mahmudullah, captain Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim make for a strong lower middle order. These are batsman who can build as well as score at a quick rate. Bangladesh have recently relied on their slow bowlers to get them the breakthroughs. Razzak, Shakib, Shuvo, Naeem form their slow bowling armoury. Nazmul Hossain and Shafiul Islam are their opening bowlers in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza. 

This World Cup India certainly is the favourite for the form they have been in over the last year and a half and of course familiarity of conditions and pitches. Lead by Dhoni, India looks a fine unit with a terrific batting line up and without a doubt the most feared opening pair in Sehwag and Tendulkar. Bowling attack is expected to be lead from the front by Zaheer and Harbhajan. Munaf’s task with his accurate line and length would be to cut the flow of runs and contain. Nehra and Sreesanth can leak runs on a bad day, but on a day which is theirs, they possess the ability to run through a team. Indian team’s X-Factor though would be their lower order batting and their spin bowling options. Raina, Yusuf and Kohli are the best batsmen a team can ask for to finish games or set a challenging total. Harbhajan, Ashwin and Chawla have enough variety and talent amongst them to give the captain nightmares to choose whom to play. Backing them up, Sehwag, Raina, Yuvraj too can roll their arm over effectively.

Sri Lanka, with a confident captain in Sangakkara and a promising batting line up figure amongst the favourites in this World Cup. Dilshan, Jayawardena and Sangakkara are the core batsmen the team would depend on. Kapugedara and Tharanga are expected to make to the top five. In Angelo Matthews and Thissira Perera, Sri Lanka have two terrific all rounders. Matthews have more than proved his mettle in recent times with sold bowling and batting performances. Their bowling looks strong with two match winners in Malinga and Muralitharan. Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando and Ajantha Mendis will fill up the other bowling positions. Angelo Matthews and Mahela Jayawardena will be very crucial to Sri Lankan game plan towards winning the Cup.

I get a very strong feeling this World Cup will come to one of the Asian nations. Bangladesh though will be very happy if they go past the qualifying round into the quarters. This tournament might see the last of one of the best spinners to have played the game, Muttiah Muralitharan. Also would be the last World Cup for the best batsman of our generation and one of the best the game has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar. There will be many a tribute paid to the legends. But cometh February 19^th, once Shakib Al Hasan and MS Dhoni come out for toss at Mirpur, it will be the on field action which will be talked about more than off field trivia and news. And mostly, what happens on the 22 yard strip is what makes the best news.