World Cup 2011 - India ???

Before I hurt anyone's sentiments, let me clarify that I am as patriotic as you all are and I also seriously want India to win the world cup 2011. But...

I am bit practical here and not sounding emotional or pessimist. In my opinion, India can't win the world cup. Those who saw yesterday's England - India match will support me.

We are watching not only India, but other cricketing teams and their performance for past few months.

England what an Unit!!! England seems to be the most transformed teams in recent times. Australia still looks very balanced and can pose threat to any team on any given day. The chokers Soth African's are as competetive as ever.

South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka all sound very balanced and charged up teams.

While Indian Batting has improved a lot over last few years, so is the case with other teams as well.

We made 338 with 9 wickets, England could do it with 8 wickets.Bangladesh, the 8th raking team, almost came close to making 300 runs against us.

We indians are too dependent on our in consistent, out of form, blind hitters and (re)tired playes like Yuvaraj, Sehwag, Yusuf and Sachin in that order. When you have 9 such players in the team out of 11, with even 50% probabiliy the odds are that 4 of them will fire and you can easily cruise beyond 280 - 320.

But how about defending the same. Looks like Mr. Cool Dhoni seems to have forgotten the basic fact that the score needs to be defended as well.

As far as the bowling is concerned, we are the most pathetic lot.

Netherlands, the 12th ranked team made the Brits to weat to get the 292 till 49th over.

Pakistan - restricted to 275+ by lankans, SriLanka can't make 270 odd against pakistan. Australia struggled to move past 270.

Mr Dhoni and company, you get paid 2 m USD in IPL for hard hitting and entertaining us. But not in world cup.

It's not too late still. Bring some basic discipline in the million dollar bowlers and fielders.

Else the dream chase will continue for another 4 years...