ICC World Cup 2019 Preview: Enormous pressure on India's top 3 batsmen to deliver

[MenInG]

Kris Srikkanth: India are about more than just the Sharma show

What more is there to say about Rohit Sharma? He has been simply incredible in this World Cup.

Four amazing centuries in a single ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is remarkable. He is now level with Kumar Sangakkara for the most-ever in a single World Cup, and I thought he was exceptional against Bangladesh.

You cannot ask for anything more from an opening batsman. Rohit knows when to attack and when to build an innings more conservatively.

In this game he was aggressive from the start and his 104 really gave India the momentum early on. Contrast that with the hundred he scored against South Africa in the first game, two completely different innings, but equally as important.

The determination and willpower is incredible. Opening in a World Cup is so important and he has taken on the responsibility when the team needed it.

The way he has stepped up since Shikhar Dhawan’s injury is crucial for India, and I’ve been impressed by KL Rahul as well.

He’d got a couple of good starts, but he went on and made 77 against Bangladesh and I’m sure a hundred is just around the corner. He looks to be gaining in confidence and is becoming another important player at the top of the order.

The great thing about the win over Bangladesh was that it was not just relying on one man. This game, and much of the tournament has been about teamwork for India.

Yes, Rohit scored a century and was deservedly player of the match, but everyone chipped in and played their part.

India ended up winning by 28 runs, so the contributions of Rishabh Pant (48), MS Dhoni (35) and Virat Kohli (26) were important too.

I think India are in a really good position, and the main reason for that is the burden on Rohit and Virat at the top of the order has been reduced. We have seen other players, like Rahul and Pant step up, and that will be important going forwards.

The same applies to the bowlers, they all played their part, with Jasprit Bumrah finishing things off in style.

It was interesting to see them go with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place of Kuldeep Yadav, but that may have been down to how good Bangladesh are against spin.

Bhuvi bowled very well, so he rewarded the decision to give him a go. The management have been clear that it was a horses for courses selection so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kuldeep back involved in the semi-final.

The good news now for India is that they are in those semi-finals. They have a final game against Sri Lanka where they will be looking to get everything right before the knockout stages.

That game could also be decisive in the race for the top seed, depending on what Australia do against South Africa.

I also want to give some credit to Bangladesh, who I felt were really good in this game.

They kept fighting until the end even though chasing 317 is a big ask, and showed a great deal of spirit against a good India side.

Perhaps they are a little too reliant on Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, but it really feels like they have evolved as a team.

India were pushed all the way, and that is where those little contributions from the whole team made the difference.

© ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019. All rights reserved

 

[Abdullah719]

India’s talisman Bumrah relishing drier conditions

Whatever the question, Jasprit Bumrah insists he has the answer after steering India to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semi-finals with a masterclass in bowling at the death.

The right-arm quick - ranked top of the ODI rankings – finished with 4/55 against Bangladesh, including three wickets in the final seven overs to steer India home to a 28-run win and a place in the semi-finals.

Bangladesh, responding to India’s score of 314/9, looked set to fall comfortably short of the target before Sabbir Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin hit 66 runs in nine overs.

That left them with 70 runs required from the final seven but Bumrah removed Sabbir before coming back to sweep up the tail.

“There is always a lot of preparation. When I practice in the net, I practice each and every situation,” he said.

“Whether that is with the old ball, new ball, bowling at the death. All of that helps me when it comes to real situations.

“If the work ethic is good, the execution will come and that is what happened. I do it again and again in the nets so the more you do it, the better at it you are.

“You can’t master it but you can be better at it.”

India have progressed serenely through the tournament, their only defeat coming against hosts England at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Knowledge is power and on the same pitch, they came back impressively against Bangladesh, with Rohit Sharma making 104 – his fourth century of the World Cup.

A score of around 400 looked on the cards before the run-rate slowed but Bumrah insists the drier conditions are to India’s liking ahead of next week’s knockout stages.

“Even in the England game, with the new ball it was relatively easier. The new ball wasn't doing a lot. So the batsmen were able to score runs,” he added.

“As the ball got older, the wicket also got slower. There was a lot of sunlight in the last game, so the wicket would obviously get slower and slower.

“I think that's the nature of the wickets, and that could be the nature of the wickets going forward. The summer is coming now, so the wickets could get drier. It's good practice for us.”

India’s attention will now switch to the semi-finals but before that they face Sri Lanka in their final group game at Headingley.

Bumrah now has 14 wickets and, even though India might be tempted to rest him, he sent a firm message to coach Ravi Shastri.

“This is my first World Cup, so I want to play as many games as possible,” he added.

“I don't think I've become an experienced player that I could say I don't want to play some games.

“I always look forward to playing, and the more number of matches you play, you enjoy more.”

ICC media release

 

[Abdullah719]

Rahul: It’s Rohit’s world and we’re just living in it

Steady KL Rahul has no intention of launching a voyage to Planet Rohit as India start to contemplate the knockout stages of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The versatile batsman has enjoyed a quietly effective tournament and thinks he would be a fool to try to play like the man Virat Kohli described as the best in the business.

India’s victory by 28 runs against Bangladesh at Edgbaston guaranteed a place in the semi-finals with a game remaining, against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Saturday.

Rohit Sharma starred again with his fourth hundred of an increasingly prolific campaign, prompting captain Kohli to call him the leading one-day player in the world.

But the contributions of Rahul have been deceptively telling and his opening stand of 180 with Sharma represented the best of the tournament for the first wicket. This after the pair added 136 in the high-pressure game against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

Rahul’s experience of opening in the longer format has served him well after moving up the order when Shikhar Dhawan was forced out because of injury – and knowing his own game has been a significant factor behind his success.

“You would be a fool to be tempted to bat like Rohit because he is in a different class,” he said. “He is on a different planet altogether when he gets going.

“He made it look really easy [against Bangladesh] when really it wasn’t anything of the kind. The pitch was two-paced, up and down, not coming on to the bat, but from the way he played you would not have known.

“We expect it from him and he is delivering every time. To bat with him is really easy because he takes the pressure off you. He keeps getting the boundaries and the scoreboard keeps ticking, I just have to keep there with him. It is great fun.

“He has scored the most runs for the team, but everyone else has chipped in and we have talked about that as a team, to keep the contributions coming from the middle order and at the death.

“Personally, I feel I have been going well, but am not fully satisfied as I haven’t carried on after some of the starts. When I say ‘convert’ I mean getting to, say, 35 or 45 overs as often as I can because in these conditions it is the set batsmen who can do the most damage.”

Rahul, 27, lasted until the 33rd over against Bangladesh before edging a sharp catch which wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim held well to his right, but the 77 was his highest score of the World Cup so far.

“We did enjoy a bit of a celebration after the game,” he said. “We are two steps away from winning the trophy and that has been a dream we have worked towards for the past four years.

“We put in a clinical performance, we batted and bowled well, and we have this winning momentum. Now we have to make sure we keep our heads up and our eyes on what is happening.”

ICC media release

 

[MenInG]

'Banker bowler' Bumrah keeps India calm under pressure

As Bangladesh reeled in India’s total at Edgbaston, Ramakrishnan Sridhar admits the nerves were jangling – before Jasprit Bumrah got hold of the ball.

Having earlier had a minor injury scare while fielding in the deep, the seamer – who sits atop the ICC’s ODI rankings – came back at the death to stall Bangladesh’s charge with three wickets to guide India home by 28 runs in a result which secured their place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-finals.

India set their Asian rivals 315 to win and for much of their innings it looked like they would fall short before Sabbir Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin blasted 66 off nine overs to set up a tantalising finish.

But when Bumrah came back, it was a different story, as the 25-year-old clean bowled Sabbir, Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman to take his tournament wicket tally to 14 with four for 55.

“Bumrah is a banker bowler so when he bowls, the dressing room is always very calm,” fielding coach Sridhar said.

“Because we know he executes and the batsmen will have to do something very special to get runs against him. We are very calm and we know he is going to deliver.

“When he fell [while fielding earlier in the innings] we kept our fingers crossed but it was not his knee or his shoulder so it was not serious.

“He came up towards the physio and then the physio came to us and said he was alright so we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. He came back, the champion that he is.”

India look set to return to Edgbaston in the semi-finals but first they face Sri Lanka in their final group game at Headingley this weekend.

Bumrah, playing in his first World Cup, is desperate to remain in the team and not be rested but, having just played two games in three days and with India boasting such strength in depth, Sridhar admits the two-time winners may well rotate.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav missed out against Bangladesh, while Ravi Jadeja is yet to feature in a starting XI in the competition.

“We will take a call after a couple of days. We have a travel day on Wednesday and then we will see how his body goes,” added Sridhar.

“It is always hard to play two games in three days, especially against two very good teams. We will take a look and then see how it goes.

“A break at this stage is a very good thing in my opinion because the players are able to take their time.

“We get time to reflect. At this stage, we have played eight games and won six while one has been a washout, so I think breaks are good at this stage.”

 

[Zeeraq]

Karthik insists India are happy to chase or be chased

This ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 has been dominated by teams batting first but Dinesh Karthik insists India are still just as happy chasing.

Wicket-keeper finally made ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup debut against Bangladesh

India hoping to secure top group slot with win over Sri Lanka, while hoping South Africa beat Australia
This ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 has been dominated by teams batting first but Dinesh Karthik insists India are still just as happy chasing.

The wicket-keeper batsman made his long-awaited World Cup bow against Bangladesh on Tuesday, 15 years into his international career.

A 28-run victory at Edgbaston clinched India’s place in the semi-finals, and depending on results, they could return to Birmingham in the final four.

That would mean a rematch with England, who India lost to at Edgbaston by 31 runs in the group stages.

But while India were beaten while chasing in that game, and teams have been much more successful batting first in the second half of this tournament, Karthik believes India are equally comfortable in either scenario.

“I think India is a team there have been good chasers for a long time we're very confident of chasing,” he said, ahead of India’s final group game with Sri Lanka at Headingley.

“I think the reason (teams have struggled batting second) is they're worried about the scoreboard pressure. But having said that, I think we as a team believe that we're good chasers, because that's what we do day in, day out.

“And we're a team that actually has the ability to handle pressure very well. We'd back ourselves to chase and get the totals that we believe we can achieve.”

Karthik got his first chance in this tournament in the win over Bangladesh, coming into the side as a specialist batsman with MS Dhoni keeping wicket.

Batting at seven, he made eight runs as India tried to up the pace in the later overs, and Karthik insists he is comfortable in that role.

He added: “I've been around for 15 years, so to play that game (against Bangladesh), I was really happy. I went to the World Cup in 2007, which actually didn't go as well as we had planned. And for me to come here and sit out the initial bit and then get a chance was something that I was really looking forward to.

“I think it's a very important phase of this tournament and I'd like to do the best I can moving forward for Team India.

“I think the coaches have been very clear on what my role has been. When I go in at No. 7, I need to assess the situation of the game and then play accordingly.

“If obviously we need to cross the line when we're batting second, then I need to pace myself accordingly.

“If you're batting first, then make sure we get to the par score that's required. They've made it clear that this is where I'll be batting, and my role is to make sure, whatever the situation is, assess it and do the best that I can.”

 

[Zeeraq]

5 July - Leeds - India player Dinesh Karthik pre-match press conference

Q. (Question not in English about slow bouncers).
DINESH KARTHIK: The batsman point of view, a power player will probably be able to hit that ball a longer distance because somebody who uses the pace of the ball that's a really hard ball to hit, basically. So, it's been a tricky ball in this World Cup, it's got a lot of wickets.

Q. Do you think that since India has already qualified for the semifinals, so what would be the mood now? Have you already started preparing for the semifinals; or, no, match by match?
DINESH KARTHIK: I think, look, first up is Sri Lanka. I think there's a few things a few players would want to achieve personally and as a team as well. We'd definitely want to play the best game that we can. But having said that, I think at the back of our minds we do have the semifinal on mind. I think that's a big game for us. For all the four teams that qualify, it's going to be a massive game. So that's in the back of the mind. But having said that, I think we're professional enough to go out there against Sri Lanka and play a very clinical game.

Q. What would you like to take out of the game with a view to the semifinal?
DINESH KARTHIK: From the Sri Lanka game, I think, look, I think at the end of the day a few of the batters would want to have a good hit. Obviously at this point of time even the bowlers, for that matter, it's important that they work on the things that they want to do. I think there is scope for improvement in all aspects of our game. I think we've been playing a good tournament until now, but I'm sure personally each player would have some box to tick and I think we'll all be looking to do that.

Q. You said you had half an eye on the semifinalists. What are your thoughts on the teams in the semifinals and who carries the most threat?
DINESH KARTHIK: Look, to be very honest, I think -- it's a World Cup semifinal, so I think all the other three teams, apart from India, obviously all four teams are going to be really looking forward to that game. It's hard for me to say, obviously, which team will be a threat. But on any given day any team can stand up. And that's the beauty of a tournament like a World Cup, because once you hit the semifinal mark, it's just that one day, and you've got to make sure you stand up on that day. I think we're really looking forward to it as a team. At the same time, I think we have a game to play in Leeds. We'll do the best we can tomorrow.

Q. You've just played one game so far, but you've seen enough like campaign substitutes and all that, the kinds of conditions, the ground conditions and the pitch. Can you talk about how difficult it is, is it difficult to score in the final 10 for the batting unit?
DINESH KARTHIK: It depends.

Q. Depending on the conditions, I'm saying.
DINESH KARTHIK: Yes, obviously, it depends first thing on the conditions. And also it depends a little bit on how many batsmen you have behind you. I think you have more freedom to play shots when you have people who can obviously play until the end. If you feel that it's important that you stay -- if you need to be the player to stay to the end, then you delay the inevitable and then make sure that you take on the bowlers at the stage where you feel that there won't be any loss for the team. So, A, you need to play the conditions. And, B, obviously the skill sets of the bowler, and then you've got to assess what the situation is and what your team needs and then react accordingly.

Q. You made your international debut 15 years back. It's been a long sort of career. Was it anything special making the World Cup level?
DINESH KARTHIK: Look, I've been around for 15 years. So to play that game, I really am happy first. I've been to the World Cup in 2007, which actually didn't go as well as we had planned. And for me to come here and sit out the initial bit and then get a chance -- against Bangladesh, was something that I was really looking forward to for playing a game. I'm really happy. I think it's a very important phase of this tournament. And I'd like to do the best I can moving forward for Team India.

Q. There's been so much talk of how the middle order isn't performing. You came in place of Kedar. Has there been any kind of brief from the team management like the kind of game they expect from you considering the situations and probably post 35th overs, considering the match, and how the tournament has panned out for the middle order?
DINESH KARTHIK: I think they've been very clear on what my role has been. When I go in at No. 7, I need to judge this -- assess the situation of the game and then play accordingly. If obviously we need to cross the line when we're batting second, then I need to pace myself accordingly. If you're batting first, then make sure we get to the par score that's required. They've made it clear that this is where I'll be batting, and my role is to make sure, whatever the situation is, assess it and do the best that I can.

Q. You only got a chance after India played six, seven games. How difficult is it to, like, perform straight away when you have to wait so much in the dressing room for that one chance that you get, you're guaranteed a place at this?
DINESH KARTHIK: Really looking forward. As I said, I've been waiting to get this opportunity. So the motivation is there. The hunger is there. It's about going there and executing. Yes, it didn't exactly go according to plan against Bangladesh. But I'm sure that in the games to come, that I'll try and put my best foot forward.

Q. Keeping the semifinals in mind, will we see some of the players -- the management resting some of the players for tomorrow's game?
DINESH KARTHIK: To be very honest, I don't know. The first question I'll say I don't know, because I don't know what the team management is thinking. So obviously that call will be taken by the coach and the captain. And until now I have no clue what they've decided on the team yet.

Q. There have been very few successful chases. More teams are winning batting first. Is it because of the conditions that are drastically altering batting second, or is it because of the scoreboard pressure?
DINESH KARTHIK: I think it's a bit of both. The conditions also -- obviously, when you're batting first, it's about seeing through the initial phase when the ball is new and then you have the ability to decide what the par score is and try and get there. When you're batting I think the wicket changes a bit, becomes slightly slower, helps the spinners a little bit. For a lot of the teams, they're bowling cross-seam and the wicket has been a little up-and-down as well. It's not been that easy to execute shots. And also this is a World Cup, so obviously there's a bit of scoreboard pressure, and I think a lot of teams have fallen prey to that as well.

Q. Going forward in this tournament, do you think India should consider or look for a sixth bowling option, or the five bowlers are good enough?
DINESH KARTHIK: Look, honestly, it's a very hard question for me to answer. It's up to the team management what they're thinking. I think that's a better question put to them.

Q. How difficult or how do you guys actually prepare yourself before a game like yourself, Ravindra Jadeja, who haven't got a lot of games, how do you go about preparing for each and every game, what's the routine like?
DINESH KARTHIK: I think every member in this 15 prepares every game believing that he can play. I say that because we get a handful of opportunities. We get an opportunity to hit in the practice. We get to play against bowlers. So basically we're treated like we're playing in the 11. So we try and prepare like we're playing in the 11. Obviously when they tell us we're not playing, then obviously that's when we know whether we're playing or not. But up until then, we practice in such a manner that we are knowing we're going to play in the 11.

Q. You just mentioned the scoreboard pressure a couple of answers back. Just curious, are you more conscious of the scoreboard because it's the World Cup? I mean, are you trying to link the tournament with the pressure of the scoreboard?
DINESH KARTHIK: No, to be honest, I think India is a team there have been good chasers for a long time we're very confident of chasing. Here I was asked why teams haven't chased enough. I think the reason being they're worried about the scoreboard pressure. But having said that, I think we as a team believe that we're good chasers, because that's what we do day in, day out. And we're a team that actually has the ability to handle pressure very well. We'd back ourselves to chase and get the totals that we believe we can achieve.

 

[Chennai_cricket_fan]

Ravindra Jadeja must be part of the Indian semi-final squad

I think Ravindra Jadeja might well supply the missing piece in the Indian team selection puzzle. Here are the reasons:

1) With summer well and truly on in England, the wickets have slowed down. This has seriously dented the wicket taking potential of Kuldeep and Chahal who are slow through the air . Jadeja on the other hand is quicker through the air and more effective in these conditions.
2) Jadeja adds depth to the Indian batting. Without him, the tail is too long for a modern ODI side.He can score runs at a quick pace in the end overs
3) He is a tiger on the field as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

I agree. Jadeja is economical with the bowl. Him and Bumrah together will ensure England don't take the game away completely with the bat on a flat wicket.

I would like to have Chahal with Jadeja as former will pick up wickets but may leak runs. Shami and Pandya are a must.

Bumrah
Shami(9)
Pandya(7)
Jadeja(8)
Chahal

 

[Dead Ball]

Absolutely.

He should replace Jadhav.

Rahul/Mayank
Sharma
Kohli
Pant
Dhoni
Pandya
Jadeja
Bhuvi
Shami
Chahal
Bumrah

 

[big_gamer007]

I'll go with ChaKuJa if pitch is dry. with BhuShaDey

 

[AdamM97]

Drop Kedar Jadhav. He’s useless for India.

 

[jagatk]

If we are playing at edgbaston we will most likely go with 3 Pacers, so chahal/kuldeep will be the lone spinner.

 

[Boi]

He will get smashed just like he did in the CT final.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Team against England should be

Rohit
Mayank
Kohli
Rahul/Pant
Dhoni
Pandya
Jadeja
Bhuvi
Shami
Chahal
Bumrah

But knowing indian team and their superstitions I expect them to not play Mayank and even drop Shami.

 

[khan_aa]

I'll go with ChaKuJa if pitch is dry. with BhuShaDey

please use full names.

 

[Saj]

Rohit Sharma is in the process of rewriting the record books but the India opener insists he will not be satisfied unless he lifts the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at Lord’s next Sunday.

Sharma notched a fifth century of the tournament in a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, moving clear of Kumar Sangakkara for the most in a single edition.

That also took him to six in total in World Cups, level with Sachin Tendulkar for the most ever.

However Sharma is adamant that his focus is not on records or legends, but instead to be part of the third Indian team to lift the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

He said: “I'm not here for records. I'm here to play cricket. I'm here to play and score runs and lift the cup. That is what I'm here for. I'm not looking at all those things at all, honestly.”

Asked if he would consider these five centuries the highlight of his career, Sharma answered: “No, not yet. If we win the World Cup then probably I would.

“If not, then I can't, because eventually winning the cup – winning the game is important, no matter how many runs you score or how many wickets you take.

“For us, as cricketers, it's important to get the job done, because we all have been looking forward to this World Cup, which comes every four years. You have to wait four years for this.

“Eventually the job for us is to go and win the finals and the semi-finals before that. But as long as that is not accomplished, no matter how many runs you score in the tournament or how many hundreds you get, you won't feel satisfied.”

Sharma missed out on India’s success in 2011, but while he admitted that it stung at the time, he has put the disappointment behind him.

The focus instead is on the present, and the way India successfully chased 264, with 103 from Sharma and 111 from opening partner KL Rahul, was impressive.

It was their first successful chase since their opening victory over South Africa, and Sharma believes the victory puts India in a good position ahead of the semi-finals.

He added: “I think it was important because we want to cover all our bases, tick all the boxes before the semis come.

“Basically it's a knockout for us, so we wouldn't be able to afford mistakes on that particular day.

“So ticking boxes was very, very important. I think we batted well when we were put in. We scored a good amount of runs.

“We wanted to make sure that we do it nice and clean. And before the semi-final comes, we wanted to make sure that the boxes are ticked and we're good to go for the semis.”

 

[MenInG]

Rohit Sharma is in the process of rewriting the record books but the India opener insists he will not be satisfied unless he lifts the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at Lord’s next Sunday.

Sharma notched a fifth century of the tournament in a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, moving clear of Kumar Sangakkara for the most in a single edition.

That also took him to six in total in World Cups, level with Sachin Tendulkar for the most ever.

However Sharma is adamant that his focus is not on records or legends, but instead to be part of the third Indian team to lift the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

He said: “I'm not here for records. I'm here to play cricket. I'm here to play and score runs and lift the cup. That is what I'm here for. I'm not looking at all those things at all, honestly.”

Asked if he would consider these five centuries the highlight of his career, Sharma answered: “No, not yet. If we win the World Cup then probably I would.

“If not, then I can't, because eventually winning the cup – winning the game is important, no matter how many runs you score or how many wickets you take.

“For us, as cricketers, it's important to get the job done, because we all have been looking forward to this World Cup, which comes every four years. You have to wait four years for this.

“Eventually the job for us is to go and win the finals and the semi-finals before that. But as long as that is not accomplished, no matter how many runs you score in the tournament or how many hundreds you get, you won't feel satisfied.”

Sharma missed out on India’s success in 2011, but while he admitted that it stung at the time, he has put the disappointment behind him.

The focus instead is on the present, and the way India successfully chased 264, with 103 from Sharma and 111 from opening partner KL Rahul, was impressive.

It was their first successful chase since their opening victory over South Africa, and Sharma believes the victory puts India in a good position ahead of the semi-finals.

He added: “I think it was important because we want to cover all our bases, tick all the boxes before the semis come.

“Basically it's a knockout for us, so we wouldn't be able to afford mistakes on that particular day.

“So ticking boxes was very, very important. I think we batted well when we were put in. We scored a good amount of runs.

“We wanted to make sure that we do it nice and clean. And before the semi-final comes, we wanted to make sure that the boxes are ticked and we're good to go for the semis.”

 

[MenInG]

Jasprit Bumrah was keen to share the plaudits with the rest of the attack, even though he was the undoubted star of the bowling show during India’s seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.

The 25-year-old from Ahmedabad joined New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson, Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir and England’s Jofra Archer in third place with 17 wickets on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 list after claiming 3/37 from his 10 overs against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

However, Bumrah was at pains to point out that it was a complete team effort that helped restrict Dimuth Karunaratne’s side to 264/7 after they had elected to bat first in their final group-stage game of the campaign.

“Everybody’s taking a lot of responsibility so that’s very good,” said Bumrah. “When you have extra responsibility, then you try even harder and your execution is good, so that’s a very good sign for us.

“In most of our World Cup games we’ve only had five bowlers that are bowling and it’s been going like this throughout. Everybody’s had a good run here. It’s been a good campaign for us, everybody’s chipped in with wickets, and with the bat also, so it’s been a case of so far, so good.”

Bumrah gave an equally understated response when he was asked how it felt to be receiving heaps of praise as the linchpin of India’s attack in his first World Cup.

“I don’t take praise or criticism seriously,” said the paceman after centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul helped India cruise to their target with 39 balls to spare. “The only focus for me is on my preparation, my execution and what I can do for the team.

“I always focus on all that and as far as the bowling unit is concerned we are very happy that everyone is among the wickets and everyone is contributing.

“You see Hardik Pandya taking wickets, you see Mohammed Shami taking wickets and I’ve also taken wickets, so that’s the positive for us going forward.

“Everybody’s had a good run here. It’s been a good campaign for us, everybody has chipped in with wickets and with the bat,” said Bumrah after becoming the second fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in one-day internationals.

“There’s a healthy competition. It’s a good headache to have when everyone’s performing and everyone’s in good nick and that’s something you love to have going into a crucial game like next week’s semi-final.”

 

[MenInG]

Kris Srikkanth: India are lucky to have Sharma and Bumrah at their disposal

India’s openers are flying right now and in Rohit Sharma they have someone who has it all.

Three centuries in a row, five in total in this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, he is in incredible form.

The opposition know that you either get him out before he gets to 10, or the next pit stop is probably 100.

In the last three years of his career he has been outstandingly consistent in one-day cricket.

I think the most important thing about him is his temperament. He is so cool and calm and just never gets flustered.

So many players start to panic if they don’t get runs during the Powerplay, but Rohit doesn’t. Even when he starts slowly, he is dangerous.

He has this ability to just shift through the gears, from second, to fourth, to sixth, to eighth. By the time he gets to 120, he is in eighth gear. He has a fantastic striking ability and we saw that against Sri Lanka.

But it is also important to remember that he does more than just strike the ball cleanly. Rohit can score this many centuries because he has rock solid defence.

I think back to when he was still batting in the middle order, a game against South Africa when Dale Steyn had just taken two quick wickets. Rohit came in, played with a dead straight bat and built through his defence. You cannot score that many hundreds without a great defence, and Rohit has it.

The good news for India is that it was not just Rohit who was great in the seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka, KL Rahul got in on the act as well.

I am really pleased to see him get to a hundred because he has played very well up to now making 40s and then 77 last time against Bangladesh.

He is another guy who is capable of scoring big hundreds, as we saw in the Test series last year in England. At The Oval he scored a magnificent 149 and almost saw India home in a massive chase.

He can score big runs and we are going to hear a lot more about him in the future.

This has been particularly impressive because Rahul found himself in a difficult position trying to replace Shikhar Dhawan.

Firstly, it is a real challenge going from No.4 to opening, but he has made that transition seamlessly.

But in addition to that, he had to step into the shoes of Dhawan, who had just scored a hundred against Australia.

That was a lot of pressure, but he has batted really well and now done something on a par with Dhawan.

KL Rahul can bat across all formats and score runs, and it is great for India that he is scoring runs including 111 against Sri Lanka.

From a bowling perspective, it was all about Jasprit Bumrah again. He really is the leader of the Indian attack.

He is the main weapon, he takes wickets, he can put on the brakes when the opposition are getting on top, he can do everything.

We saw it against England when they were cutting loose, and against Sri Lanka again, when they were trying to attack.

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Bumrah is going to be a key man for Virat Kohli. India are lucky to have someone with the ability to take wickets with the new ball, come back later and break a partnership if needed, and then to restrict at the death.

© ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019. All rights reserved

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rohit Sharma "I'm not here for records, I'm just here to play cricket, score runs and lift the cup" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/0l2FDKTw22">pic.twitter.com/0l2FDKTw22</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1147800873319501829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reporter: Say something about MS Dhoni's birthday.<br><br>Rohit Sharma: What do you want me to say? Happy birthday.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/EozYXELggi">pic.twitter.com/EozYXELggi</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1147802036936818693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

India batting coach Bangar impressed by Sharma’s consistency

Rohit Sharma is in the form of his life, but for India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, the way Rohit has helped his opening partners has been just as important to India’s success.

The opener made it five ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 hundreds in eight innings with his 103 against Sri Lanka in a seven-wicket victory at Headingley.

That win, combined with Australia’s defeat to South Africa, clinched top spot in the group stage for India.

And as well as Sharma’s hundred, opening partner KL Rahul (111) also got in on the act, much to Bangar’s delight.

He said: “What is remarkable is the consistency (Sharma) has shown in this tournament because it’s very easy for any batter to rest on past laurels.

“But he has come out in each and every innings and started in the same fashion. The way he has helped the partner at the other end, whether it was in the Australia game where he helped Shikhar (Dhawan) out of a difficult phase and he went on to play a good innings.

“Now he is helping KL Rahul out in the middle and here he also flowered, so that is all team work and I’m really glad that he is doing all this for the team on a consistent basis.”

India finished the group stages with seven wins and one defeat from eight completed games, along with a washed out encounter with New Zealand.

They will face the Black Caps in Manchester in the semi-final on Tuesday as they try to move one step closer to a third ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title.

But for Bangar, the key will be focusing on their own game, rather than worrying about what the opposition will do or the fact they are one game from the final.

He added: “We are just keen to get on and play the semi-final as soon as possible. We need to keep doing the things we are doing at the moment.

“We have always maintained that we are looking at our internal parameters. If we are hitting our internal indicators, then we will be playing at our best and that is what we aspire to do.”

 

[Abdullah719]

Top 3 fell today = India knocked out. Good call.

 

[MenInG]

Top 3 didnt deliver in this game and the lower order failed also