India's Journey so far and the holes to seal before the Quarter Finals: World Cup 2015

India’s Journey so far and the holes to seal before the Quarter Finals: There is no stopping for the Men in Blues in this ICC Cricket World Cup. Team India is killing everything coming their way at the moment. MS Dhoni’s men came all guns blazing in first round of the World Cup except for a few moments when the pressure was on them but it did not affect them much as they have had the final laugh on every occasion.

A look at Team India’s journey so far in this world cup:

15th Feb, Ind vs Pak at Adelaide Oval:

Result: India won

Much had been said about that battle before and after the match. But on the D-day, India was too hot to handle for green army. Thanks to Virat Kohli’s 22nd ODI century India crushed Pakistan in the much speculated game by 76 runs.

22nd Feb, Ind vs SA at MCG:

Result: India Won

One of the big match of the first round and the biggest match of Pool B. Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 300 plus again, thanks to brilliant display of batting from Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan. South Africa had no answers against the disciplined bowling and accurate fielding display from their opponents. India won the fixture by a big margin of 130 runs.

28th Feb, Ind vs UAE at WACA:

Result: India Won

India after winning big matches flew down to Western part of Australia for this contest against a smaller opponent. No surprises there, India defeated UAE convincingly by 9 wickets, as it was always on the cards.

6th Mar, Ind vs WI at WACA:

Result: India Won

Batting first West Indies posted 182 runs on board. India started chasing watchfully, but in a matter of time India was reduced to 78/4. When, everyone falls, Captain MS Dhoni delivers, he was as cool as cucumber under pressure, and in the end he rescued India and team India managed to win the contest comfortably by 4 wickets.

10th Mar, Ind vs Ire at Seddon Park:

Result: India Won

After finishing the Aussie leg of the tournament, Team India flew all the way to New Zealand. Batting first Ireland scored competitive score of 259 against one of the better bowling line-ups in the tournament. Thus, becoming first team to score 250 plus against India in this World Cup 2015. India chased down the target comfortably. The chase saw a century by Dhawan and an announcing fifty by Rohit Sharma.

14th Mar, Ind vs Zim at Eden Park:

Result: India Won

Zimbabwe was asked to bat first by Dhoni and they quite liked this opportunity and posted 287 runs on the board. Credit to Brendon Taylor’s century (138). This was also the Taylor’s last match in Zimbabwean Jersey. Thus, he has now become the first player to score century against India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Once again, the famed Indian batting collapsed during the chase and at one stage they were really struggling at 92/4. As they say, “Cometh the hour, Cometh the man”, once again MS Dhoni came for the team’s rescue, as he built a magnificent 196 runs partnership with Suresh Raina. India won the match comfortably in the end by 6 wickets and with a big six from skipper Dhoni.

The Unsealed edges:

Though the team has won cent percent matches thus far but it is not that all the XI players in the mix have been performing form of opener Rohit Sharma and that of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is concerning for the team management. Smaller grounds, playing against weaker opponents but Rohit is yet to get his touch. He has been falling to poor shot selection, either playing a bit too far from the body or trying to reach out for a widish delivery, he has been fishing around. There are a lot of expectations from the only man who has scored two double tons in ODI cricket. It’s time Rohit lives up to his “TALENTED” tag.

The story of Ravindra Jadeja is no different either. Call it the curious case of Jadeja: “Jack of all trades, Master of None”. He is in the team as an all-rounder. But, at the moment he is neither bowling nor batting to his potential; it was evident when skipper Dhoni decided to make it a point to mention the need for Jaddu to step up in the post match press conference. His bowling economy throughout the tournament has been over and around 6 and has done poorly with the bat as well.

If there is an opportunity and Jadeja fails in the quarter’s and if the team advances there will be a strong though over Akshar Patel replacing the struggling Ravindra Jadeja, as he is a good bowler compared to Jadeja and a cool head with the bat as well.