Reigning Champion India has announced its ICC World Cup Squad to defend its title that it won at home in 2011. India also was the surprise winner in 1983 when Kapil Dev’s India turned the table on favorite West Indies at Lords. Indian team is currently touring Australia. Australia has already won the Border- Gavaskar test series winning at Adelaide Oval and Woolen GABA Brisbane .The status of ongoing final test at SCG suggests that India is already out of contest with Australia batting very strongly in the first innings. There is strong possibility that Australia may wrap up the series 3-0. Then Australia, India and England (Three Stooges) will then contest in Carlton Mid Tri Series.

We all know that test cricket; ODI and T20 are all different fishes in the kettle .Indian bowling and fielding appeared less competitive in the test series .Experts believe that this may be  the effect of too much T20 cricket where bowlers do not usually have to bowl lengthy spells over long duration. Very strong Indian batting apart from Virat Kohli and Ajinka Rahane also struggled to cope with the fast bouncy surfaces. Batsmen alone cannot win many matches for India in World Cup.If Indian bowling and fielding does not improve significantly it will be extremely difficult for them to defend the title.

Team India:
MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli (V Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma ,Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Md. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

The team above has seven top quality ODI batsmen, four pacers, three spinning and one medium pace all-rounder .The greatest surprise of them all is the exclusion of Yuvaraj Singh, the man of the tournament of ICC World Cup 2011. No one will contest the inclusion of seven batsmen for their prolific ODI batting records and inclusion of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja .But on Australia New Zealand Wickets Stuart Binny type player may not be useful. His type could be more suitable in English Condition. Moreover the team has four genuine pacers .Yuvaraj Singh has quality, experience and past proven track records at match winner to earn a place in the side .What useful purpose Axar Patel will be serving .Apart from his aggressive batting Yuvi is also a useful bowler and good enough fielder. India will definitely miss a trick in not including him in the side.

Inspirational leader MS Dhoni has formally announced retirement from test cricket to concentrate more on ODI and T20. In the present day at lower middle order he is arguably the greatest finisher. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma will probably open the batting .They are both blasters and on Asian Wickets proved destructive with many match turning scores. Rohit has two scores above two hundred and he is the proud holder of the highest ODI score. Virat Kohli according to many is one of the most accomplished batsmen of the present day cricket in all format of the game. His form ran out a bit before the current Border Gavaskar series .But now he is well and truly back in his brilliant best. India has a very strong middle to late order batting comprising of talented Rahane, consistent Ryadu and helicopter pilot MS Dhoni.

The Indian tramp card in ODI must be highly talented Suresh Raina .Very aggressive batsman and excellent fielder can turn the match around. May be for this reason he walked into the team. As told earlier Stuart Binny may not suit the conditions down under.  The pace at which he bowls will be bread and butter for opposing batsmen. If included Jadeja and Ashwin are no mug with the bat. But for reasons best known to them Indian batting tail failed to wag in the ongoing test series .But ODI may be different. India must score around 300 consistently cover up the weakness of their bowling skills on Australia and New Zealand skills and sloppy fielding.

Ishant Sharma,Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Md. Shami/ Umesh Yadav would handle the pace attack. None of them could make much impression on Australian batsmen in the series for their inconsistencies .ODI is not only taking wickets but also containing. Correct Line and perfect length are very important. One two loose deliveries in one over makes the difference. How far Indian spin of Ashwin or Jadeja will work in ODI will have to wait and see.

India is grouped with South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and UAE. Only four of the seven teams will go through. Any four of the five full member teams and ICC associate Ireland can win any ODI match on their day. Things may not be so easy for India to get through and even if they manage it crossing the hurdle of Quarter final and beyond may be extremely challenging .But beating India also will not be plain and simple.

BDST: 1146 HRS, JAN 07, 2015