Warm-up match: Ind vs WI

Terrific performance by India against a side which is playing in their home conditions and is pitched as one of the favourites to present a challenge in this WC. Whereas the prev warm-up match showed our batting capability in scoring a huge total in some difficult circumstances, this one showed our bowling strength which can reduce a good team to a 2-digit score.

This match was full of individual performances. Let me start with the bowling.

Zaheer - What a comeback he is having. He wants to make up for his notorious 2003 final performance against the Aussies. He is showing great control with the ball and has become a more mature cricketer. Guess the English stint helped to a great extent. He will be our bowling mainstay in this WC and I think he is going to make a memorable outing this time.

Agarkar - He started off in the wayward-Agarkar manner but came back into the match with the recent-effective-Agarkar form. The way he slides the ball into the batsman or bowls that masked quicker one, makes sure that the batsman will be expecting something different each time they face him. The most experienced pace bowler in the team he should be sharing the new ball with Zaheer.

Both these bowlers took only 1 wicket each, but the manner in which they controlled the WI innings was commendable. Its nice to see the opening bowlers concede less than 4 runs each. This means that Dravid has an option of getting 12-14 over completed with close to 55 runs conceded in the first two power plays.

Munaf - Well he was a revelation yesterday. He started off as a quick bowler and is rumoured to be able to reverse-swing!!! He did the maximum damage to the Windies. He has proved beyond doubt that he is the best 3rd pace bowler in the team with this performance of 6-2-10-4.

Pathan though he got 3 wickets was not exactly all that impressive. He sprayed all over the wicket. If he could atleast play half as well as he started off, India can play 5 bowlers and use Pathan as an allrounder. Kumble got one over and seeing the first few balls itself one could make out that Taylor had no clue of the bowler he was facing. The problem with Kumble is that the Pakis/SLans etc have already figured out how to play Kumble so he might not be as effective as one might think.

Uthappa - Coorgis are considered to be one of the toughest races in India. He proves that point to a great extent. He is playing like the Sehwag we knew 5 years ago. If it is there to be hooked, he will hook it, if it is there to bhe hit he will hit it. No two ways about it. Incase Sehwag doesnt click in the Bermuda match, I think he shud be a straight replacement for him.

Karthik - He is another player who seems to have come back strong. From a keeper who could bat, he has become a batsman who can keep. Dhoni is partly responsible for the maturing of this cricketer. He seems to have become a tough lad. Looks well built now and the confidence is showing in his batting. Initially I remember him to be the single-nudging, place to 3rd man and take the single, give back the strike sort of player. But now, he is a boundary hitting, 3 down batsman. He gives a lot of option and a selection headache to the team management.

So all in all it was a good showcase of India's challenge in this WC.