We never termed India as favorites for T20 record owing to its record in T20 format post 2007. The only reason India were titled favorites was that they were defending champs. Just like Australia is a default contender for every ODI world cup. It’s a different thing that Australia live up to the bill, India did not. But then T20 is hardly a format to be taken too too seriously. Sour grapes.
India is in red hot form in ODI since 2008. They have won everything. CB series, SL ODI series, NZ series, Eng series. Big thing. SA comes close in that record. Won in all conditions with Australia and SL being the toughest. Only one series triumph at home. The point here I drive is India are strong contenders for the ODI trophies not withstanding its T20 record. Australia aren’t the same team anymore in ODIs. Pakistan play almost no cricket and when they play they are extremes. So beating them isn’t a big news this days for India. SL are on slide in the ODIs. But they cannot be discounted just cos they have Sanath and 3 Ms. West Indies, England and Kiwis would always be bridesmaid. The only strong consistent teams based on the current record in oDIs are India and South Africa who now have 8-2 record over Australia in recent times.
The next big thing is CT 2009 in South Africa. Something which would test India’s roadmap to 2011 which began in 2008 with the axing of Rahul and Sourav from the ODIs. I still doubt if Rahul is really not worth ODIs. Given the displays from the so called talented Rainas and Sharmas, Rahul would give complex to any youngster with his adaptability and consistency. It would depend on performance in CT to guess how good India is to win its 2nd title in 28 years – the CUP of LIFE that matters. Good thing about it is, the cup is being played in India and India have never lost before semi-final in home world cups, but then they have never won any semi-final in Indian world cups. So don’t host the world cup semi final in India in either of Eden Gardens and Wankhede.
Yes I know its over rating India right now, but then few days later there would be very little posts on Indian cricket in this blog as the rest season would beckon and Aussies would thump Poms in the Ashes, so that’s going to be the focus then.
My predictions : Australia 3, England 1.
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