World Cup Format

World Cup 2019 in England, only the rain is the most consistent performer. Out of 24 matches played in the tournament, four have already gone without any play and in equal number, density of clouds keep travelling over and above the stadium, which means broken mojo of the teams on the field. 

Everybody went back the memory lane, of how Pakistan (the underdogs) qualified in 1992 for the semi-finals by virtue of rain. Pakistan only had three games to be played in the Group Stage and two were washed out due to rain. Pakistan’s, underdog team, qualified for the semi finals and ultimately went on to win the World Cup in 1992. South Africa was strong contender for 1992, but lost out to D/L method in knockout stage.

In a strange sense of events in 1996 World Cup, South African team was again the favourites for the World Cup. South Africa thrashed out the teams, they played in Group stage. In Quarter Finals, South Africa was going strong and the worst West Indies, West Indies as team has gone to its worst today, compared to their heydays of winning first three editions of World Cup, 1996 team was the worst till the time; and then in a strange chain of events, West Indies took three wickets in one over, only to end South Africa’s dream run, without giving them a chance to play Semi-Finals. But it was still Quarter Final. 

South Africa as country had joined international cricket after decades of hiatus in 1991, due to apartheid. Post which, ICC has been working around the world to ensure more and more countries start playing cricket and trying to bring more countries in the main stream. Cricket is the least adopted sports in the world in terms of number of nations. Of course, we can compare some of the snow related sports, due to weather and mountains.

ICC tried to increase teams for the World Cup, and in one such edition, they brought 14 teams. And the realization dawned that bottom six teams, do not even deserve to be in World Cup. World Cup as the tournament, which comes every 4 years should only be played by the best teams. We are also living in an era of T20 cricket with the immensely popular IPL edition; when players like Gayle are becoming specialists in the format.

IPL (Indian Premier League) has 8 teams and all teams play with each other, twice in the tournament, which ensures, only the most consistent teams in performance get the chance to reach the Qualifier (more like semi-finals) rounds. 

For the first time in World Cup, every team is playing all the other teams in the tournament with 10 countries playing World Cup 2019, to ensure there are no stroke of luck editions like Pakistan in 1992. It was not about the best, it was only about getting lucky on that day, when fortunately you get to play a match.

In World Cup, 2019, rain can wash up 3 matches for every team, still every team has at least 6 matches to be played and perform, which requires consistency and persistence to qualify for the Semi-Final stage. Six matches to be played by every team in World Cup has never happened before. 

The four teams which qualify for semi-final, now need luck only for two matches on two days, definitely the consistent ones, who carry performance throughout the 9 matches (or 6 matches, due to rain), would rely more on performance and less on luck. Four teams at the top will be crème de la crème.

Now after 39 out of 45 matches, we are still not clear which teams qualify for the semi-finals, except for Australia making the cut. Rain didn’t play the spoilsport post the 4 – 5 matches in the initial phase. 

Which World Cup format is better or has more merits to gauge the reflexes that which team is more consistent in its performance, which can perform over longer duration against everybody to be truly anointed the Champion of the World Cup. 

My bets are all hedged on Cricket World Cup 2019 - #CWC2019.

Dhoni and the World of Cricket T20

I stopped watching the Final of Cricket World Cup T20 between England and West Indies after 12 over of second innings by Windies as they had just scored 66 in 12 overs and required 90 from 48 balls. A mobile beep at 11 in the night tells me West Indies won after hitting four sixes of last over with two balls to spare. Now Darren Sammy tells the world about the delirious conditions with which their Board treats them, hence they are bigger heroes than just winning the World Cup. Probably England is the best team to hit sixes against, Yuvraj hit six sixes in one over against them.

My mind races back to the India-Bangladesh match and what a match it was, no match  of any sport in any country in the world can make as many people their heartbeats than a thriller by an Indian cricket team. A friend of mine quoted on Facebook, “Dhoni does not believe in Winning, Winning believes in Dhoni”. We had won three straight games against Bangladesh prior to the series and won all the matches in Asia Cup in Dhaka. In this match as well, we were expected to take leap in terms of average in case India, Pakistan and Australia get stuck at 2 won matches each. Only the luck (luck is an important factor in T20 cricket) saved the match. But as the team with Number 1 ranking, we are never up to the mark.

Radio, television channels, music, entertainment channels everybody was playing the last over of the match by Hardik Pandya for the next 24 hours. In the past few months, their is a movement amongst the cricket intellectuals and greats to elevate the position of Dhoni from cricketer and skipper to the Cricket Hall of Fame. Certainly people were reminded of the last over bowled by Joinder Sharma in the first ever T20 cricket wherein Dhoni was made Captain and sent with the team of rookies (underdogs) as the heavy weights refused to play T20 cricket. 

Dhoni certainly deserves a place. We won a match against Pakistan and also Australia to which Kohli guided us to a comfortable win. If Sachin is God of Cricket, then Dhoni is certainly the mentor of T20 cricket. He is a mentor not only to players or the team but the whole concept of T20.

Like his coach said that he was recommending to some senior retired players in the cricket arena and they asked, what type of batsmen he is and what is his batting style? His coach said, he plays excellent shots and he has his own style and not anybody he can think of. Dhoni's style of picking good length, low pitched deliveries from the ground and swinging it past boundary on the long on/off is called Helicopter Shot. 

For the semi-final, we booked a table at an upmarket pub in South Delhi. Somehow watching the matches in a crowded place adds to the fun, much better than an experience in stadium. Plus they are playing all the heart pumping patriotic music during commercial breaks or whenever India hits a six or takes a wicket, free shots (tequila) are provided. 

We lost the match to the Windies and our chances of winning the World Cup were grounded. In the upmarket bar which was crowded was suddenly empty and dull after we lost and one group of Indian fans lashed out at other group for they were still laughing and argued India lost and you are smiling. Not to mention, glasses and plates few across and broken and littered at the place, so much so, that the bar authorities had to call the security and Police was also on the way, during which we also decided to  gulp our beer and head towards exit.

Apparently there were few reports in the media as well of violence on the streets as India lost. Such is the passion and enthusiasm of cricket. T20 is not about technique or the patience or the sense of character, it is all about entertainment. With the increasing mix of Bollywood and the corporate world and the models and cheer leaders, it is as glamorous as a fashion week but with much high drama and emotions at play.

Dhoni’s style of shots are perfectly attuned to this style of cricket. In more than 6 out of 10 matches, he is playing the winning shot. In the T20 matches, India’s matches were the ones which provided with the maximum thrill and entertainment for any cricket fan as all matches were close and could swing to any side, any moment. 

It’s true he and the team that he is built has given immense range of emotions to the cricket fans and more percolate on the thrilling and happy side and less of sadness and moreover Indian side put their everything in T20 match, even if they have lost, they play a competitive game with no easy chances for their opponent.

Dhoni is an entertainer as T20 is all about entertainment. Let’s take a look at the press conference after they lost to West Indies in the Semi Final on 31st March, 2016. 

The question asked by Samuel Ferris of cricket.com.au was about whether after the Indian team's exit from the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals, Dhoni, at 34, was keen to play on. At first Dhoni responded by asking Ferris to repeat the question, and when he did, the following played out. 

“Come here, let's have some fun”, said Dhoni, beckoning to Ferris to join him. Ferris blinked and looked taken aback. Dhoni pushed aside one of the chairs next to him and said: “I am serious, come here”.

The Australian sat down and Dhoni put an arm around him. “Do you want me to retire?”

“Not that I want. That's what I want to ask you,” replied Ferris.

“I was hoping it was an Indian media guy because I can't really ask you if you have a son or a brother who is a wicketkeeper. Do you think I am unfit, looking at my running?” asked Dhoni as giggles rippled around the room.

“No. You're very fast.”

“Do you think I can survive till the 2019 World Cup?”

“You should, yes, sure.”

“Then you have answered the question.” With that, Dhoni patted Ferris' back and the Australian got up and walked back to his seat.

Dhoni wasn't finished, though.

“I wish it was an Indian media person,” he added, clearly in reference to the number of times his place has been questioned after a defeat and the times journalists have asked him questions about his future. “Then I would have asked if he has a son who is a wicketkeeper and ready to play. He would have said no, then I would have said maybe a brother who is a wicketkeeper and who is ready to play. You fired the right ammunition at the wrong time.”