[vibbs]

I think South Africa have still managed to get a score which is not beyond India's capability to loose.

But this is the best opportunity to start off the campaign with a win. I hope this will also set the tone for our bowling. I did expect to see shami in the team instead of Bhuvi if playing only 2 pacers.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by deehunk

Bangladesh and Pakistan can upset India with their current form. India can face a tough challenge from West Indies if batting first on a green top wicket.

I agree, a semis spot is not going to be a cakewalk for India, as many pundits seem to suggest.

My guess for the semis is England, Australia, Pakistan and NZ/Windies

[NPV]

India start off with a win

South African batting failed yet again (their top order) and even their fielding was way off the usually high standards they display on the field.

[PPS]

An ideal start for Team India in the World Cup. A good, hard fought, grinding win!

No Ngidi & Steyn helped, else we might have been in some trouble. Once Rabada & Morris finished their first spell, things eased off a fair bit.

This is the worst fielding unit of SA that i've seen in the last 2 decades!

[harry10]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

I agree, a semis spot is not going to be a cakewalk for India, as many pundits seem to suggest.

My guess for the semis is England, Australia, Pakistan and NZ/Windies

You must be kidding me. Pakistan.. what!!
Just because they somehow managed to defeat England doesn't mean they haven't been literally rubbish in some time. They will be lucky to compete with Afghanistan and Bangladesh for last 3 spots.

India will surely make the semis.

Great start today. Rohits return to form is great news. Though we need Dhawan to fire asap too. Bowling was great, fielding consistent. Only sore point was Kohli missing out but he will make it count against his favorite opponent next match, the Australians.

[Eddy]

I think SA is making incorrect decisions at the toss. Bowling first on a batting track against BD and batting today on a seaming track.

That said, I don't see how they can recover from this. Tell you the truth, SA would have lost this very badly had Morris not played well today. He's not that very often consistently for SA and if he doesn't fire like this again, SA will be in trouble.

Also, anyone noticed the similarities in the bowling attacks today ?
Bumrah = Rabada
Chahal = Tahir
Kuldeep = Shamsi
Hardik = Phehlukwayo


Ultimately, it was the talent of "Sharmaji ka ladka" that won it for us..... and some good luck

[Oxy]

The Australia game on Sunday is a very crucial one. Definitely Australia are the favorites, but if we somehow manage to pull that off, we will be pretty much guaranteed a place in the semis (assuming we avoid any upset).

I expect us to win against the likes of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan and West Indies.

[am1m]

After growing up watching our cricket team through the 90s I felt like crying (with joy), one attacking fast bowler, another accurate and containing one, two good spinners and two part-timers who are able to finish their quota of 10 overs, so this is finally what it means to have a 'bowling attack'!

Still not a dominant one, one more out and out wicket-taking pacer needed. But pretty good stuff for our team! Factually now, is this really the best attack we've ever had? I'm inclined to think so, but just because the media keep saying so, I'm having my doubts!

[arindambasu13]

What a crazily slow match. I was tearing my hair out waiting for the runs to get scored and the match to end, especially towards the middle overs. Wicket seemed to have gotten really slow in the second innings.

Perhaps, we are spoiled by the quick pace of 20-20 cricket, but sometimes, 50 overs of slow scoring cricket becomes pretty difficult to watch. Overall, the expected result and a good start to the Indian campaign.

[suresh_gs]

Just get a feeling that Afghanistan might upset SA. Looking at their current batting lineup, the tail starts after Du Plessis. They seem to struggle against spin.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Just get a feeling that Afghanistan might upset SA. Looking at their current batting lineup, the tail starts after Du Plessis. They seem to struggle against spin.

Afghanistan lost an easy match to Sri Lanka, they are dependent on Shahzad to provide explosive start but the middle order batsmen are not consistent.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by arindambasu13

What a crazily slow match. I was tearing my hair out waiting for the runs to get scored and the match to end, especially towards the middle overs. Wicket seemed to have gotten really slow in the second innings.

Perhaps, we are spoiled by the quick pace of 20-20 cricket, but sometimes, 50 overs of slow scoring cricket becomes pretty difficult to watch. Overall, the expected result and a good start to the Indian campaign.

On the contrary I quite enjoyed the tussle between bat and ball. Mindless flat pitches with slogging all the way gets boring. This was a perfect pitch where all runs had to be earned. Rohit played a very mature innings.

Although I will agree with you that 50 overs gets tad boring and 20-20 is more fun to watch.

Hopefully west indies will give a shocker today to aussies. The are certainly capable of it.

[am1m]

Wow, now there's a report that apparently ABdV 'offered' to come out of retirement and play in the WC for SA!

Crazy timing of this report, makes it suspect. But assuming this is true, and no doubting ABD's talent, but IMHO the team management did the right thing not to entertain this offer when it was made, apparently 24 hrs before the team selection was announced. This is still a team game and no one, no matter even a cricket genius like ABD, should just be given a free ticket at the last minute. If he had decided a year earlier and gone through the required matches like the rest, then yes.

Or do teams need to make exceptions for talent like this? Obviously given how bad SA are doing right now, there will be an emotional 'what if', but objectively, what do you guys think?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by am1m

....Or do teams need to make exceptions for talent like this? Obviously given how bad SA are doing right now, there will be an emotional 'what if', but objectively, what do you guys think?

There have been instances in test cricket where cricketers came out of retirement to serve the team's cause. I can think of Bobby Simpson as an example. Even Colin Cowdrey came out of retirement to handle Jeff Thompson.
Not sure if there are such cases in ODI

[ghodlur]

In the other match yday between New Zealand and Bangladesh, the black caps were give a scare by the Bangla tigers and it would have a been a big upset had New Zealand been beaten.

Shakib is proving to be a good all rounder coming good with bat and ball in this match. I guess on the fast pitches, its the spinners who are the biggest winners.

The matches till date are proving that bowlers are winning the matches rather than the batsmen.