Of the 15-man squad that won India the World Cup in 2011, only Virat Kohli will make it to this edition, 12 years on. India have never failed to reach the semi-final stage when hosting the event, and as they prepare to embark on another exhausting campaign – nine league matches in 35 days – we assess the opposition they’ll face. The difficulty level is not just based on the likely XI, but also the conditions that they’re likely to encounter, as well as historical pointers. A difficulty level of 1 suggests a near-walkover, while 5 is as tough as it gets.
India v Australia – Chennai, October 8
If India are to win a third World Cup, they will have to start their campaign the hard way, with a clash against Australia, the five-time winners. In three previous World Cups on the subcontinent, Australia have won one (1987) and reached the final of another (1996). They have the slow bowlers to take advantage of spin-friendly conditions, and the quicks tend to be both accurate and hostile. Add in a batting line-up full of experience and runs, and this won’t be an easy opener at all.
Difficulty level: 5
India v Afghanistan – Delhi, October 11
None of the current India players were in the XI when Bangladesh scripted a famous upset in Trinidad in 2007. But with Rashid Khan in the opposition, you can be sure that India will not take this contest lightly. Afghanistan’s great strength is their spin bowling, but it’s unlikely they’ll find raging turners in October-November, just after the monsoon season. In previous World Cups, their batting has been a big meltdown, and it’s that weakness that India will focus on.
Difficulty level: 2
India v Pakistan – Ahmedabad, October 15
On paper, whether it’s the batting, bowling or the presence of game-changing players in the XI, Pakistan are more than a match for India. But seven defeats in seven World Cup games stretching back to 1992 tells its own story. On the biggest stage, and in front of the largest crowd that any of them would have played in front of, can Pakistan’s players hold their nerve? The stunning Virat Kohli-led heist at the World T20 in Melbourne last year suggests that India still have a mental edge.
Difficulty level: 4
India v Bangladesh – Pune, October 19
They’ve flown under the radar a bit, but in Asian conditions, Bangladesh are now a formidable side. Like India, they have a wealth of experience, and enough spin-bowling options to take advantage of any turning tracks they encounter. Again, the question will be whether they’re mentally strong enough to push India. Have lessons been learned from that incredible meltdown in Bengaluru during the World T20 in 2016?
Difficulty level: 4
India v New Zealand – Dharamsala, October 22
This looks very much like a banana skin, and India would want to come into this game with at least six points in the kitty. The ball flies around in Dharamsala, in the foothills of the Himalayas, and New Zealand have the pace bowlers to take full advantage. But will their batting hold up against an Indian attack that knows the conditions even better? Win this, and India can start thinking of the semi-finals.
Difficulty level: 4
Also Read: New Zealand and South Africa Potential Banana Skins; Pakistani Stance Could Impact World Cup Tourism
India v England – Lucknow, October 29
If the pitches at the Ekana Stadium are as stodgy as they were during the IPL, England’s stroke-players will definitely struggle. This is unlikely to be a surface where anyone can go bang-bang. And if Bazball is not an option, do England have what it takes to grit their way through an innings? More importantly, do they have the quality spinner to test India’s batting?
Difficulty level: 4
India v Qualifier 2 (likely to be Sri Lanka) – Mumbai, November 2
Barring some huge upsets in Zimbabwe over the coming week, this slot now looks to be Sri Lanka’s. If they do make it, it would be a repeat of the 2011 final, also played in Mumbai. Sri Lankan cricket has endured a nightmarish half-decade since the retirement of a golden generation, but the signs of revival are there, and there will be no complacency from India.
Difficulty level: 3
India v South Africa – Kolkata, November 5
If the Eden Gardens pitch has plenty of pace and bounce, South Africa’s phalanx of pacers will be right on India’s case. But do they have the batters to find a way if the surface happens to favour spin? More importantly, can they finally break free of the demons that almost always haunt their campaigns in global events? There’s plenty of talent, but where will the experience and leadership come from?
Difficulty level: 4
India v Qualifier 1 (likely Zimbabwe) – Bengaluru, November 11
With West Indies, shockingly, looking unlikely to qualify for the showpiece event, it could be a revitalised Zimbabwe team, under the coaching of Dave Houghton – who scored a heroic 142 against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 1987 – that line up for this fixture. Sikandar Raza has gotten better with age, but they simply don’t possess the strength in depth to worry India, especially at a venue whose postage-stamp boundaries will be ruthlessly targetted by India’s batters.
Difficulty level: 2
