World Cup 2015: India must be ruthless with South Africa
I want India to convey the message to South Africa firmly and clearly. But I also know that it would be a daunting task. South Africa is one of the most consistent teams in world cricket, be it Test cricket or shorter versions, and India will find themselves facing a huge challenge. It is going to be the most exciting encounter in this group.
What makes the contest exciting is the aggressive nature of South Africa. They love to dominate and this is one aspect India must tackle with confidence. A good result here would put India’s World Cup campaign on the right track. The team has all it takes to tame South Africa and it is time the players realised their potential against a tough opponent.
The victory against Pakistan is history. It was a good win and great preparation for the match against South Africa but I am worried Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys will find the going difficult if the contributions do not come from all departments. India would do well to look at things differently and past experience suggests that South Africans are the favourites.
To me, South Africa is an extraordinary team in the conditions it is likely to encounter in Australia. They have come with a mission. Not that they did not have aspirations in the past but this is a team that instills confidence in its supporters. They have a galaxy of players who are known to perform when it counts and the World Cup is a stage where every player wants to shine.
For the last six World Cup editions South Africa have been strong contenders. They come to conquer but return empty handed. I don’t want to go into the reasons why South Africa faltered when everyone expected them to blast the rest but I know this team holds greater promise than any time in the past. Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, David Miller can win matches consistently.
AB de Villiers can do the same and with greater devastation. I doubt if there is a batsman more authoritative at the crease than de Villiers. He makes a mockery of the best bowling attacks and India have to guard against his aggression. But I want to see how South Africa perform under pressure. They seem to come apart when the opposition applies the pressure and it would help India immensely if they manage to seize early control.
It is important to take charge quickly because South Africa have the ability to come back from the brink. Apart from an explosive batting line up, South Africa have two bowlers who can make life difficult for the best of batsmen in world cricket.
Dale Steyn is a breathtaking bowler in the first spell but he tends to lose his rhythm when you go after him. He is, however, a rare bowler who looks to take wickets in one-day matches and that makes him a special performer for his side. I have always believed it is better to have a bowler who takes wickets regardless of how many runs he concedes.
Morne Morkel is a fine partner for Steyn. In fact, I find Morkel more dangerous in Australian conditions because of the awkward bounce that he can get. The height is a huge advantage for Morkel and he uses it to his benefit well. He brings value to the South African attack and on his day, when he is landing the ball in the precise areas from the beginning, Morkel can be an unplayable bowler.
India need not be overwhelmed by South Africa’s plus points. Dhoni must remember that South Africa is a vastly different team than Pakistan. India just can’t afford to bowl like they did against Pakistan. The bowlers would have to try a different line and length because South African batsmen are adept at handling the bounce and the short stuff. I don’t think there is need for India to tinker with the playing XI.
Dhoni may be tempted to make changes only if the pitch at Melbourne is different than the one prepared for Adelaide. The pair of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can be persisted with since they have the experience to deliver.
In case there are signs of conditions assisting seam and movement, then I would readily pick Stuart Binny for Jadeja. He can add to the batting strength but I want to see if Binny can bowl 10 overs. He would become an asset then.
There is a lot at stake in the match for both the teams. A win could ease the passage to the knockout stage and I am sure we are in for a treat. The competition is likely to go up a few notches and it would be a great duel to relish between Virat Kohli and Steyn. Both are exciting exponents of their art and bring top quality stuff to the game.
I watched the New Zealand-England match with interest and was thrilled to see Tim Southee produce such craft. He bowled such a fabulous line. For years, I have not seen movement so pronounced and he did really well by pitching the ball up. There is a lesson here for the Indian bowlers.
They have to pitch the ball up to get the maximum benefit from playing in Australia. Hope they take that decisive step against South Africa.