The recent Indian team’s performance in the tri-series which was hosted in Australia was extremely disappointing.
Under the present circumstances, India can do well in the World Cup? Probably not because certain insights emerge if one sits back for a bit of microanalysis.
Firstly, what is pertinent about the tri-series is India batted first in all three matches it played. In two of those, the team chose to bat first. Was it experimentation at work because a loss in the tri-series will not be as costly as one in the World Cup? We won’t know, but one can always rationalise, which humans (and cricket fans) are good at.
Secondly, the tri-series may have given us our perfect opening combination, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.Shikhar Dhawan seems to have been sorted out by bowlers. If so, it’s better he fails in the run-up to the World Cup than in it.
Thirdly, the tri-series came at the end of a tiring tour and the players looked jaded. Conversely, it can be argued that the exit from the tri-series may allow them to breathe deeply, chill and come back rejuvenated for the World Cup.