India grades v South Africa

India managed to throw a lot of pre-World Cup predictor bets off by not only beating, but totally bossing South Africa in their second World Cup match. Does this make India a genuine contender? Given how long a way there is still to go, and given the format of this World Cup, it's still too early to say, but it's fair to say that India are going to be a threat, especially if they bat first. Let's look at two key points from the match, followed by India player grades.

Almost perfect bowling and fielding performance by India

If you thought the bowling performance against Pakistan was good, this one was even better. The bowlers bowled to their plans, hardly gave any loose balls away and the fielders threw themselves all over the place to back the bowlers up. What was most pleasing was that while you expect the likes of Kohli, Raina and Rahane to make an impact while fielding, Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav affected run outs with powerful and accurate throws from the boundary. Mohit, in particular, is turning out to be a revelation. Ishant Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar must be starting to get a bit nervous about their places in the ODI team. 

Batting performance nearly a replica of the Pakistan match

Early wicket - check. One of the top 3 going on to score a century - check. One partnership to restore the innings between Dhawan and Kohli and then another to keep the momentum going with the no. 4 batsman having a real impact - check. Lower middle order not clicking and the innings ending with a whimper - check. India need to keep this formula going but need to figure out a way for the lower order to contribute more. It may be time for Dhoni and maybe even Jadeja to come up the order in one of the remaining group matches to get some time in the middle ahead of the knockouts. 

Player ratings out of 10 (0-10; 10=best)

Rohit Sharma (3) - Cricket can be a cruel game. The in-form batsman coming in to the World Cup and he's now got out cheaply twice. While Rohit may have slipped slightly and AB  de Villiers was absolutely outstanding, it's these kinds of margins that international cricketers have to straddle all the time. Rohit really needs a big innings to get back into rhythm. Given how weak the middle and lower order has been, India would dearly love their top 4 to get into form. 

Shikhar Dhawan (9.5) - Nearly a complete batting performance. He seemed to carry the form from the Pakistan match into this one and really made it count. This was a lesson in ODI innings building. He rotated the strike well, accelerated when he needed to with excellent cricketing shots and did not get overly frustrated when India had a quiet over or two in the middle of the innings. Made South Africa pay for the dropped catch and was a deserved Man of the Match. Two shots off Morkel really stood out - the pull for four after being troubled by a short ball and the casual flick for six over long leg off the same bowler when he walked across his stumps. Also took a couple of important catches and put in a solid fielding effort. 

Virat Kohli (8) - Was key in rebuilding the innings calmly after the loss of an early wicket. Kohli played perfect foil to Dhawan and did not take any undue risks when he realized that Dhawan was middling it. He's been in trouble trying to pull away shortish deliveries from legspinners on the faster pitches in Australia in both matches thus far. He'd do well to make an adjustment and account for the extra zip and overspin. Another mature batsman from India's batting lynchpin. 

Ajinkya Rahane (9) - Rahane dispelled all doubts about his middle order credentials in the Indian ODI team with this performance. He did not take time to get going when he came in, looked fluent from the off, rotated the strike and also found the odd boundary to take the pressure off Dhawan. His straight drive off Morkel was stunning, so was his straight six off Steyn just before he got out. He needs to bat at 4 since he's shown how dangerous he can be without resorting to mindless slogging. He is quietly turning into India's best batsman and fielder in ODIs. 

Suresh Raina (5) - Cricket can be such a great leveler. After a standout performance against Pakistan, Raina played into the hands of the South Africans here. I suspect Morkel had sent him a letter (by snail mail, no less) a year ago telling him exactly how he would be bowling at him during this World Cup match. And instead of trying to control his pull shots and get Rahane on strike, Raina proceeded to not only walk into the trap, but stay for a cup of tea and a chat. However, he was electric on the field and that gives him an extra point. Did miss a run out of Amla after doing all the hard work, however. 

MS Dhoni (6) - Another average batting performance followed up by a flawless captaincy display. He briefly threatened with the bat before falling to Morkel. He desperately needs some time in the middle - something he should be able to arrange against the UAE. However, his attacking captaincy has been a real revelation. Even after the first powerplay, he kept 6 fielders in the circle against AB and Faf and that pressure forced Faf to take some risks for his boundaries. He saved Ashwin for the left handers in South Africa's middle order and used Umesh Yadav in short, sharp bursts. Almost perfect to a T. 

Ravindra Jadeja (4) - At this point, I doubt that even his grandmother refers to him as allrounder anymore. He may end up keeping his place in the team for this World Cup simply because there are no other options. His bowling was against steady without being threatening, but he did bowl a good over at AB that may have led to the pressure that caused his run out. India need way more from their no. 7 with the bat, however. 

R Ashwin (8.5) - Another fantastic spin bowling performance from Ashwin. He started off with a few short deliveries that Faf took advantage off, but really came into his own when given the chance to bowl at the left handers in South Africa's middle order. Once he settled into a rhythm, he was really hard to milk for singles and ended up getting rid of the dangerous Duminy. He seems to be bowling slower and enjoying the extra bounce on the Aussie pitches. 

Mohammed Shami (9.5) - Easily the best he's bowled in an India shirt in the last two matches. Shami showed that he has what it takes to lead India's attack in this ODI. Delivered an early wicket again and it's hard to think of one poor delivery that Shami bowled throughout his spell. He keeps growing in confidence with every match and that's an excellent sign for India. 

Umesh Yadav (6.5) - 6-0-34-0 may not look special, but this was a much improved bowling performance from the one against Pakistan. Started off being too straight to Amla, but adjusted well and bowled in good channels. He was also pretty unlucky as three top edges that may have gone straight up on another day ended up going for boundaries behind the keeper. He made the batsman take risks to score boundaries against him and if he keeps bowling like this, the wickets are bound to come. Great throw from the deep to run out the dangerous Miller. 

Mohit Sharma (9) - Mohit Sharma may end up being India's surprise package of this World Cup. He is clearly enjoying the little bit of nip that the pitches in Australia afford him. He did not bowl a single bad delivery last night and focused on keeping things really simple. He bowled a really well directed bouncer to get rid of the dangerous Amla and got Faf's wicket with good, sharp, wicket-to-wicket bowling. His throw to get rid of AB de Villiers was one of those key moments on which close matches turn. 

Do you agree with the ratings? Do you have any thoughts on the match in general? Please let me know in the comments. 

India grades v Pakistan

India have started their ODI World Cup defense with a mostly convincing victory over Pakistan. For a large number of Indian fans, it doesn't matter what India end up achieving in the competition after this. For someone who has watched all six World Cup matches against Pakistan, here are a few thoughts on the match followed by points for the Indian team.

Pakistan's weakest bowling attack in a World Cup?

Pakistan have traditionally boasted high quality bowling attacks with names such as Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Mustaq Ahmed ... the list goes on. Although they did really well to come back towards the end of the innings, the bowling attack did not inspire a great amount of fear. Although Yasir Shah bowled relatively well, Pakistan were really affected by Saeed Ajmal's absence as India managed to score at 6 runs an over in the middle overs without taking any undue risks. In general, both teams had a bunch of newcomers. India were without Sachin, Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Zaheer - all veterans of India-Pakistan clashes over the years and there was a distinct lack of personalities on both sides, which made it a distinctly mellower affair than years gone by.

India do to Pakistan what other teams have been doing to India for years

You wouldn't associate the Indian team with hostile fast bowling, neither would you associate Dhoni with attacking captaincy in seamer-friendly conditions. Both of these stereotypes were shattered as Shami and Umesh Yadav ran in and bowled fast and aggressive spells. While Yadav was wayward and did not inspire confidence despite getting a couple of important wickets in the middle overs, Shami was outstanding. The most pleasing wicket for an Indian fan was that of Younis Khan, who has been a thorn in India's side over the years on unresponsive pitches in Asia. He looked all of his 37 years trying to get out of the way of a sharp Shami bouncer, only managing to glove it awkwardly to Dhoni. There were a few other bouncers that the Indian seamers let fly and Shami and Yadav bowled consistently in the 140's. More of the same, please! 

Player ratings out of 10 (0-10; 10=best)

Rohit Sharma (5) - After starting off relatively well, Rohit played a terrible shot to get out. He's been the man in form for India so far and fans expected him to take responsibility, but he has the tendency to play reckless shots in the first 10 overs. It looks great when it comes off, but Rohit really needs to try and play percentage cricket and give himself the best chance of batting the full 50 overs. 

Shikhar Dhawan (8) - One of the most pleasing aspects of India's win was that Dhawan looked fluent from the off and hit some pleasing drives and pulls en route to a fluent half century that was also part of a very important partnership with Kohli. He got run out after a mix up with Kohli and while it was Kohli's hesitation that led to the run out, a slight nit pick would be that had Dhawan switched the bat over to his right hand before turning around and putting in the dive, it may have just saved him. World Cups get decided on little things like these. 

Virat Kohli (9) - Something about the big stage brings out the best in Kohli. Started the 2011 World Cup with a century against Bangladesh and kicked off this version with another. The best feature of his batting was the risk free way in which he was able to bat in the middle overs. Also took a fantastic catch to get rid of Shahid Afridi during a time when a few blows may have started to cause some flutters in the Indian camp. Got out at a tired shot and triggered a collapse that saw India lose 5 wickets for 20-something runs in the last 5 overs. 

Suresh Raina (9.5) - Almost a perfect performance from a player who was under some pressure before the match began. Accelerated beautifully during the later half of India's innings and was electric in the field. Picked up a couple of crucial catches at first slip. Raina needs to do well if India are to go far in this World Cup. Man of the Match for me. 

MS Dhoni (6) - Appeared scratchy while batting and could not give the innings the boost it needed. Apart from one sweetly struck six off Sohail, he seemed to struggle for timing and looked to hit the ball too hard. He may need to come up the order against one of the minnows to give himself some time in the middle. On the field, his wicketkeeping was sound and his captaincy was aggressive and un-Dhoni like. 

Ravindra Jadeja (5) - Looks extremely unconvincing as a lower order hitter. He was all at sea against Wahab's pace and nearly got himself run out a couple of times before getting cleaned up. He was steady with the ball without looking particularly threatening and managed to hold on to an important catch at point. 

Ajinkya Rahane (4) - He came in to bat in a thankless situation and the grade is a bit harsh, but such is life. Opened his WC campaign with a golden duck but was part of a good all-round ground fielding display. 

R Ashwin (8) - Dhoni threw the ball to him when the partnership between Shahzad and Haris was starting to look dangerous and he looked the most likely to take a wicket. Bowled three maidens in his 8 overs and took out Haris at just the right time for India. Tried a bit too much against Misbah and ended up getting pinged around. 

Mohammed Shami (9) - Started off with fantastic control and came back well in his later spells. His wicket of Younis was crucial and he ended up getting the wickets of Misbah and Afridi as well. India need him to bowl with this kind of intensity throughout the tournament. 

Umesh Yadav (5.5) - A highly inconsistent bowling performance. Although he bowled with good pace and bounce, a leg side gift was never too far away. He may be better off used in short, sharp spells the like of which got him the wickets of Shahzad and Shoaib Maqsood. Because he is naturally capable of generating good pace, he should focus on bowling in the middle overs and not try anything too clever. 

Mohit Sharma (8) - He came on as first change and managed to keep things tight after Yadav sprayed it around. He was able to hold his own against the big hitters in the Pakistani line up and bowled good lengths and excellent slower deliveries. He needs to put in more honest spells like these through the course of India's campaign. 

Do you agree with the ratings? Do you have any thoughts on the match in general? Please let me know in the comments.