5 Reasons India can win the semi-finals against Australia

5 Reasons India can win the semi-finals against Australia: India has reached the semi-finals yet again in their bid to defend their World Championship. They will face tournament hosts and the favourites to win the tournament Australia in the second semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Sydney on 26th March, 2015. They have qualified for the semis undefeated in the tournament and would hope to keep that form alive till they lift the trophy. Despite Australia being in good form and playing in familiar conditions, India have some damn good reasons to believe that they can defeat the 4 time World Champions. Here are 5 of those reasons which make India a better bet to win the contest. 5. Best bowling unit of this World Cup: Mohammad Shami has led the bowling attack with aggression and confidence .(Photo Source : Getty Images) India’s bowling clicked at the best possible time i.e. right at the start of the World Cup 2015. The bowlers, who didn’t look like picking a single wicket in the tri-series that preceded the World Cup, have bowled out all the 7 oppositions they have faced so far. That includes teams like South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The fact that no bowler has picked up a 5 wicket haul so far is testament to the collective effort of the 5-6 bowlers India has used in the series so far. Mohd. Shami has been the pick of the bowlers along with R. Ashwin while they have been brilliantly supported by Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav, who seems to have a license to just bowl at the fastest speed that he can, to unsettle the batsmen. Wahab Riaz rattled the Australians with pure pace and bounce and India has Yadav and Shami who are capable of doing so themselves, so Australia should be ready to face some chin music and serious pace in the semis. Even Suresh Raina has helped out in between, bowling his full quota of 10 overs once. Spin is the Achilles heel of the Australian batting despite having 2 of the best batsmen against spin in their XI. They have not faced quality spin so far apart from a couple of overs from Vettori in the group game. Ashwin has got the bowl to turn and bounce at the SCG, and if he can do it again, Australia have some challenge at their hands. Even Jadeja and Raina have caused problems for the batsmen playing them and Australians are susceptible to spin, so its game on. 4. Form and Confidence: India has shown confidence in their tactics and belief that they can beat any team.(Photo Source: Associated Press) India has not lost a game yet in the on-going World Cup. They have won 7 games in a row, a big feat in a tournament of such magnitude. They have dominated most of the games and players have put their hands up whenever needed to bail the team out of some or other problem. The confidence the management and the leadership installs in the players has come true, because they have believed that they can overcome any opposition, not matter who they are. Though the Australians have reminded India of the tri-series, India has a lot to remind Australia about their loss against New Zealand and the 2008-2012 tri-series performances of India in Australia. 3. Fielding has been the most impressive: India’s fielding unit has been the best in this World Cup.(Photo Source:Associated Press) Fielding wise, India has been one of the top 3 teams in this World Cup. The fielders have held on to their catches, with assists from other fielders, Dhoni has taken some great catches and stumpings, while the out fielding has been one of the finest in decades. The run-outs in the games against Pakistan and the run-out of AB de Villiers against South Africa proved to be game changers, in the context of the match. They similarly choked Bangladesh with their tight fielding and just did not allow them the easy singles. For the first time in decades, India has fast bowlers who are above average fielders, who can dive, slide and hold on to the catches. Dhoni doesn’t have to hide them at sweeper cover or mid-wicket to keep them out of the ball’s way. Mohit Sharma’s and Umesh Yadav’s throw to get rid of 2 important batsmen against South Africa proved that this team has raised its fielding levels to the point where they not only saved 20-30 runs, but are capable of getting wickets with the pressure they create. 2. Batting has been the highlight for India: Shikhar Dhawan has scored 2 hundreds in this World Cup.(Photo Source: BCCI) India has always been known as a nation of batsmen. The batting in this tournament has been in terrific form with centuries from Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma with wonderful back up and counterattack from Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni. All of them collectively have posted totals that their bowlers can defend easily in the latter half of the game. India seemed to have transformed from a chasing superpower to a total defending powerhouse in this World Cup 2015. They did chase 280 plus against Zimbabwe and that too with Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni doing the hard work after the top order failed to giving a good start. Against Australia they will face the trio of Johnson, Starc and Hazlewood with Faulkner, Watson and Maxwell as support. A tougher challenge, but they have passed with flying colors against the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Imran Tahir in the group stage and the occasion of a semi-final may bring the bowlers under pressure to perform beyond their capabilities. India will fancy their chances against this Aussie attack as they lack a quality spinner which could come in handy on the Sydney track. 1. MS Dhoni – the leader: MS Dhoni’s clever leadership has been one of the factors behind India’s performance in this World Cup.(Picture Source: Sportskeeda) If Michael Clarke is considered one of the best captains going around, then MS Dhoni has proved he is no less when it comes to leadership and mind games. He might not let you know what’s going on in his mind, but a subtle change in the field or the making Suresh Raina bowl 10 overs against Bangladesh are some of his moves which he knows will pay off. Dhoni has led India will fun, fare, luck and ability which has made him the best ODI captain in the last 6-7 years. India have never lost a semifinal under Dhoni’s captaincy. He will remind Australia of their QF loss in 2011 World Cup, his 3 ICC tournament trophies, his 2008 tri-series wins and numerous other achievements, but if he can demolish Australia to reach the finals, this achievement will pale every other achievement in front of it. Australian team is as tough as they come; they gave New Zealand a fight to remember in a game they looked out of, after scoring just 151. They don’t accept defeat until they have given everything they can to win. And Dhoni is a captain of similar mind-set. ODIs are a perfect format for him because he can control the game as he likes with clever use of bowlers. He knows the weaknesses of each Australian batsmen and bowlers and has probably made plans to counter whatever Clarke and co. throws at him. The semi-final between India and Australia will be a match that is a guaranteed classic, and would not be an overstatement to call it a final before the final.