ICC World Twenty20: All set for fierce mind game

MOHALI: So. India stares another do-or-die situation. Third one in a row. It's just out of a virtual life-taking one-run, last-over victory against Bangladesh, a much lower ranked team in this tournament. And now there's Australia, waiting to explode, with hopes of avenging the 0-3 loss to India just the other month.

And, what could be more plumb for the Aussies than a cornered India, on home ground and at a venue where the visitors have just made a mess of Pakistan with consummate ease. As pressure goes, this one will be as taut as it gets. Will MS Dhoni be able to take it head-on, this time too? Focus, adaptability and individual preps will count, says Virat Kohli and it does make sense because India's batting line-up needs just that, and a whole lot of self belief that they seem to have strangely lost in the run-up to the home Cup.

As forms go, it will be a battle razor's edge. Both teams will be fighting for a place in the semis, both lost their openers to the Kiwis and then rallied back to win the next two. And now they meet each other in the Mohali coliseum, to fight like gladiators in a take-all show.

Mind will play over matter and whoever rides the pressure, will live to tell the tale of glory. The only thing uneven in this contest is India's run rate and it's doggedly fought but scratchy wins over much lesser teams like Bangladesh and Pakistan. Australia, on the other hand, have shown discipline in their twin achievements in the run-up to this match, defeating Bangladesh in a much better manner and then packing off Pakistan in style. Down the road, they also sported the only 5-for haul in the tournament by a bowler with James Faulkner doing the honours against Shahid Afridi's side.

While India's bowlers have been doing the job with utmost precision too, the batting has choked without an explanation. Shikhar Dhawan, who did not play football with the team for the entire duration it warmed up for the training session on Saturday, raised a lot of chatter among on-lookers, in the backdrop of his dismal form. But Dhoni is known to stick to his guns so Dhawan will most likely be there to face the Aussie quicks and leg break sensation Adam Zampa who turned the Pakistanis back to Islamabad quite prematurely.

India's batting mainstay Virat Kohli has been relishing his run against the Australians so Dhoni will be counting on him as a big plus. His recent form has been great, something that will come in handy for the skipper beset with a lionised reputation but slim performances from his mates. Rohit Sharma and Dhawan, main spokes in Dhoni's gamelplan to fire well before laying the wire for the Aussies, have not delivered well and the concern will only add to the pressure, especially if the Indian skipper loses the toss.

The toss will be crucial as the pitch has something for both the quicks and the turners (there's Adam Zampa to take care of) and who scores well first holds the key to this full of runs but on a slower side wicket. It has potential to hold many to ransom so caution will have to there but in a measured form.

The Australians, after a loss to New Zealand at Dharamsala, have picked up their form somewhere in-flight between hill venue and Mohali and despite Jaspreet Bumrah showing inexplicable brilliance in the last over against Bangladesh, there is this tough job of taking care of Smith, Warner, Maxwell and a back-to-business Shane Watson to name a few. Ashwin and Jadeja, the arm stars of the tournament who have been troubling the Aussies, will be the men the Aussies will be looking at closely before mounting their attack.

With all guns blazing, at both ends, this will be the most fiercely fought match to decide who goes to Mumbai for the semifinal and who retreats into the barracks to lick their wounds before IPL starts. 

Source: The Pioneer, March 27, 2016