Can Team India maintain their unbeaten World Cup 2015 run?
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Auckland: Having reached the quarter-finals with one commanding performance after another, defending champions India will be aiming to finish their group league engagements with a flourish when they take on Zimbabwe in an ICC Cricket World Cup match, in Auckland on Saturday. (Complete World Cup coverage | Stats | Points Table | History)
India are currently on a roll in the tournament as they have practically crushed most of their oppositions save the West Indies, which at the most gave them a scare during the group league game at the WACA in Perth. (Zimbabwe seek happy farewell from World Cup 2015)
The match against Zimbabwe is an inconsequential affair in terms of statistics but a chance to complete an all-win record is something that the 'Men in Blue' would like to take with them before the business end of the global event starts. (Kohli has set an example for youngsters: Dav Whatmore)
Momentum is key in any tournament and there can't be better practice than match-practice when they get down at Eden Park against a Zimbabwean side that is second last in the table with a solitary win in five games. (India 'fantastic' but New Zealand 'favourites': David Warner)
It has been a terrific turnaround for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys as no one gave the team an outside chance of title defence after their indifferent show in the Test series against Australia followed by a poor performance in the ODI tri-series. (India's winning streak give TV ratings a boost)
But in the past four weeks, the tables have turned for Dhoni and co. as they produced one superlative performance after another. So much so that all the experts are now considering India as one of the title contenders in the tournament.
Such has been India's domination in the tournament that Dhoni's boys have eclipsed the India record by winning nine straight games in the World Cup, including four matches in the previous edition.
So one can't think of a more convenient opposition to make it a 'Perfect 10', which will be an excellent boost before the quarter-final starts. For India, the going has been perfect in the tournament as it is difficult to find loopholes in their effort throughout the past one month.
The batting has been rock solid with all the top seven getting some runs under their belt but the story of the tournament so far has been their bowling.
Considering that pitches prepared in Australia and New Zealand for this edition has been primarily batting tracks with good bounce, the Indian bowling unit has got all 50 opposition wickets in five matches.
The Indian bowlers have executed their skipper's plans to perfection and their consistency is seen to be believed.
The likes of Mohammmed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma have hardly taken their foot off the pedal against good teams like Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies while UAE, Ireland found it difficult to counter the versatility of the attack.
Shami with 12 wickets has been the pick of Indian bowlers but there could be a healthy debate as to who has had more impact on the opposition --- Shami or Ashwin.
In terms of wickets, Ashwin with 11 scalps to his credit is not far behind but what has been impressive about the Tamil Nadu bowler is his ability to put relentless pressure on the batsman.
Just like Indian batsmen had one pressure day in the group stages against West Indies where their top order stuttered, the Indian bowlers did face some questions asked by William Porterfield and Niall O'Brien in their match against Ireland, but it was Ashwin who had answered all queries.
Along with Shami and Ashwin, Mohit's role has been fantastic. He comes in as the third pacer, bowls to one particular channel and can also work up brisk pace in the early 140 kmph. It's been like Dhoni is running a computer program where everything is planned and executed with precision.
Even Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, the two low key performers in the bowling unit have more or less done their job with utmost sincerity. The fielding also has been excellent in the tournament with some fantastic run-outs being effected by the Indians.
The catching has been safe if not spectacular. India's most assured area is batting and it has not let the team down one bit. Shikhar Dhawan's ability to rise to the occasion, especially during ICC tournaments have come to the fore once again as he now has 333 runs at an average of 66.60 and a strike rate of close to 100 (98.50).
He is only third in highest run-getters list with Kumar Sangakkara (496) and AB de Villiers (417 runs) ahead of him.
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