India go into the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup looking to become the pre-eminent team in world cricket in both formats.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men are already, of course, top dogs in Test matches - and the likeliest by-product of the global showpiece, which gets under way this weekend, is that they will depose Australia as the International Cricket Council's number one team in one-day internationals too.
It is a state of play which appears sure to prevail in the medium term in any case, and India merely have to cash in their potential to confirm themselves world-beaters on their home patch.
Their superstar line-up has all bases covered better than anyone else - as befits a cricket-crazed country populated by more than 1.15 billion.
Those basic facts and statistics dictate that the odds are stacked in the co-hosts' favour.
Nonetheless, in a format dominated for so long by Australia - winners of the last three ICC Cricket World Cups, without the help of home advantage - perhaps the biggest question mark to asterisk against India is whether the stage and occasion may yet get to them and erode their superiority.
It famously has in the past, notably at the last three ICC global tournaments - the 2007 ICC CWC in the Caribbean, 2009 World Twenty20 in England and the 2010 staging of that same event back in the West Indies.
Much soul-searching and effigy-burning has followed each of those setbacks. But with the great Sachin Tendulkar fit after his hamstring injury, a squad peopled by Virender Sehwag, Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh et al is studded with match-winners at every turn.
No other team can boast more than a handful, certainly not at the height of their powers - as India's best must be to stay in contention.
If there is any weakness, it is minor and relative in the seam-bowling department.
But notwithstanding the reinvention of that art in limited-overs cricket, the pace bowlers are less likely than any of their team-mates to be regular major players in a sub-continental ICC CWC.
The 2011 tournament is therefore India's to lose.
If they do miss their obvious opportunity, though, which country is best-placed to take advantage?
Australia are an unheard-of fifth in most bookmakers' lists, and deserve to be after two years of general regression, as well as a long list of injury troubles - which began with a broken finger for veteran captain Ricky Ponting.
He regained fitness in time but has to prove his form in a batting powerhouse which has been largely dormant, apart from Shane Watson. It will need a collective reawakening from the middle order if Australia are to defend their title again.
Shock bowler Shaun Tait - along with Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga - may be capable of bucking the predicted trend of pace as a hapless force in unhelpful conditions.
Otherwise, though, it is Sri Lanka, South Africa and maybe even England - notwithstanding their 6-1 post-Ashes ODI humbling down under - who are more credible usurpers of India's birthright.
Third in the rankings, by a whisker behind India, Sri Lanka have been thought capable of following up their surprise 1996 ICC CWC victory on each occasion since. Their all-round personnel means that is true again, and this is the first time Australia are not bankers to stand in their way.
England, having won their maiden ICC trophy - the 2010 Twenty20, after 25 years of previous failure - have reason for cautious optimism.
That will be centred in their famed team spirit and meticulous planning under coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, but tempered by the spate of injuries to potentially key players at the end of an arduous winter in Australia which has also significantly hampered their Ashes hosts.
Still, it is high time Kevin Pietersen began again to justify the esteem in which he is held. He will get no better stage to restate his claims as a world-beating batsman - and with Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad having recovered from their injuries there is plenty of back-up nous and talent.
With the bat Ian Bell, along with an in-form Pietersen, is most likely to score at the necessary tempo.
With the ball, Mike Yardy - like the West Indies' Sulieman Benn - may prove an aggravating proposition for batsmen looking for leverage to clear the ropes.
Of the remaining Test-playing nations, previous over-achievers New Zealand, habitual under-achievers West Indies and the impossibly unpredictable and chaotic Pakistan belong in the second rank of feasible challengers.
Behind them come Bangladesh, still developing but with enough talent and home conditions to win their share, and - much further adrift - Zimbabwe.
Ireland are the obvious pick among the remaining four contenders to cause an upset, as they did more than once at the last ICC CWC.
But South Africa, whose selection of five spin options is an imaginative gamble, recently shaded a 3-2 victory over India at home appear best-equipped of all to derail the favourites.
Their batting line-up is a blend of aggressors and accumulators, who still have their place in 50-over cricket - even in a power-hitting environment like this - and much-travelled and late developing leg-spinner Imran Tahir is an intriguing new presence in an already highly-skilled bowling attack.
The ICC badly need at least a smattering of signature performances from flamboyant or emerging cricketers such as Tahir.
This tournament will still last seven weeks, including warm-ups, despite the organisers' acknowledgement that its much-maligned predecessor in the Caribbean suffered from a desultory schedule.
If the format and conditions also conspire to provide one-dimensional slog/spinfests, those who deride 50-over cricket will have more ammunition.
The optimistic forecast nonetheless is that individual and collective talent will shine through sufficiently, particularly for India.
Approaching Milestones
- Sachin Tendulkar has appeared in five consecutive World Cup competitions between 1992 and 2007. He would be equalling Javed Miandad's feat of appearing in six World Cup tournaments in succession since the inaugural edition i.e. between 1975 to 1996.
- Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in 444 ODIs. When Tendulkar steps on to the field at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur against Bangladesh on February 19, he would be overtaking Jayasuriya's tally to set a world record for most appearances in ODIs.
- With 189 fours, Tendulkar holds a record for recording most fours in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup. With eleven fours during the forthcoming competition, he would be the first to reach a tally of 200 fours.
- With 97 hundreds in 622 games - 51 in Tests and 46 in ODIs, Tendulkar requires just three centuries more during the latest edition of the ICC CWC to complete a century of international hundreds.
- With runs' tally of 1796 (ave.57.93), including four hundreds and 13 fifties, in 36 games, Tendulkar requires 204 runs to become the first player to amass 2,000 runs in the ICC CWC.
- Ricky Ponting would be setting a record for most appearances in the ICC CWC. At present, he shares the record with Glenn McGrath. Both have appeared in 39 games between 1996 and 2007.
- Jacques Kallis (923 runs in 29 games at an average of 51.27) needs 77 runs to become the second South African to complete 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC - a feat accomplished only by Herschelle Gibbs - 1067 (ave.56.15) in 25 matches.
- Australia have played 29 games in succession between May 27, 1999 and April 28, 2007 without losing - a record at the ICC CWC. With just one victory in the 2011 edition, Australia would be the first nation to play 30 consecutive games without losing. Apart from Australia, not even a single team has played ten consecutive games without losing. Australia's tally includes 22 consecutive games won by them between June 20, 1999 and April 28, 2007.
- Shakib Al Hasan (2834 at 34.98 in 102 matches) needs 166 runs to become the second Bangladeshi to complete 3000 runs. He would be joining Mohammad Ashraful (3360 at 23.49)
- Just for the record, Shakib is the only Bangladeshi captain to enjoy a success % of 50. He has won 17 and lost 16 out of 33 contested - winning % 51.51. He would be trying his best to maintain the winning % of 50.00.
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul (856 at an average of 40.76 in 26 matches) is all set to become the third West Indian to complete 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC. Brian Lara holds a West Indian record with 1225 runs at an average of 42.24, including two hundreds and seven fifties, in 34 matches. Vivian Richards had amassed 1013 at an average of 63.31 in 23 matches, including three hundreds and five fifties.
- Muttiah Muralitharan (53 wickets at 19.69 runs apiece in 31 matches) can become the leading wicket-taker in the history of the ICC CWC and to overtake Glenn McGrath's tally of 71 wickets (ave.18.19) in 39 matches.
- Ponting is the only skipper to enjoy a cent per cent record, having won all the 22 ICC CWC matches. He is all set to overtake Stephen Fleming's tally of 27 matches as captain.
- Ponting (954 at 59.62 in 22 games) needs 46 runs to become the first captain to aggregate 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC. In case of a hundred in any of the games during the present competition, he would be eclipsing Sourav Ganguly's record of three hundreds as captain.
- Tendulkar's seventeen knocks of fifty-plus, including four centuries and thirteen fifties in 36 matches, is a record in the ICC CWC. With just three fifty-plus innings, he would be the first to record twenty fifty-plus innings in the ICC CWC.
- Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in 444 ODIs. When Tendulkar steps on to the field at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur against Bangladesh on February 19, he would be overtaking Jayasuriya's tally to set a world record for most appearances in ODIs.
- With 189 fours, Tendulkar holds a record for recording most fours in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup. With eleven fours during the forthcoming competition, he would be the first to reach a tally of 200 fours.
- With 97 hundreds in 622 games - 51 in Tests and 46 in ODIs, Tendulkar requires just three centuries more during the latest edition of the ICC CWC to complete a century of international hundreds.
- With runs' tally of 1796 (ave.57.93), including four hundreds and 13 fifties, in 36 games, Tendulkar requires 204 runs to become the first player to amass 2,000 runs in the ICC CWC.
- Ricky Ponting would be setting a record for most appearances in the ICC CWC. At present, he shares the record with Glenn McGrath. Both have appeared in 39 games between 1996 and 2007.
- Jacques Kallis (923 runs in 29 games at an average of 51.27) needs 77 runs to become the second South African to complete 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC - a feat accomplished only by Herschelle Gibbs - 1067 (ave.56.15) in 25 matches.
- Australia have played 29 games in succession between May 27, 1999 and April 28, 2007 without losing - a record at the ICC CWC. With just one victory in the 2011 edition, Australia would be the first nation to play 30 consecutive games without losing. Apart from Australia, not even a single team has played ten consecutive games without losing. Australia's tally includes 22 consecutive games won by them between June 20, 1999 and April 28, 2007.
- Shakib Al Hasan (2834 at 34.98 in 102 matches) needs 166 runs to become the second Bangladeshi to complete 3000 runs. He would be joining Mohammad Ashraful (3360 at 23.49)
- Just for the record, Shakib is the only Bangladeshi captain to enjoy a success % of 50. He has won 17 and lost 16 out of 33 contested - winning % 51.51. He would be trying his best to maintain the winning % of 50.00.
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul (856 at an average of 40.76 in 26 matches) is all set to become the third West Indian to complete 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC. Brian Lara holds a West Indian record with 1225 runs at an average of 42.24, including two hundreds and seven fifties, in 34 matches. Vivian Richards had amassed 1013 at an average of 63.31 in 23 matches, including three hundreds and five fifties.
- Muttiah Muralitharan (53 wickets at 19.69 runs apiece in 31 matches) can become the leading wicket-taker in the history of the ICC CWC and to overtake Glenn McGrath's tally of 71 wickets (ave.18.19) in 39 matches.
- Ponting is the only skipper to enjoy a cent per cent record, having won all the 22 ICC CWC matches. He is all set to overtake Stephen Fleming's tally of 27 matches as captain.
- Ponting (954 at 59.62 in 22 games) needs 46 runs to become the first captain to aggregate 1,000 runs in the ICC CWC. In case of a hundred in any of the games during the present competition, he would be eclipsing Sourav Ganguly's record of three hundreds as captain.
- Tendulkar's seventeen knocks of fifty-plus, including four centuries and thirteen fifties in 36 matches, is a record in the ICC CWC. With just three fifty-plus innings, he would be the first to record twenty fifty-plus innings in the ICC CWC.
CAPTAINS CORNER
Here's what South Africa captain Graeme Smith, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara had to say looking ahead to this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup.
Graeme Smith: “It’s important to have a winning mindset for this tournament, especially when there are four or five teams who could win this event. It’s crucial to think like winners, we’d love to get our hands on a World Cup, it’s important to have that mindset and give yourself the best opportunity to win the ICC CWC.
“I think the sub-continent is something South Africa have embraced, the fanfare, the different style of wickets, it’s about embracing the sub-continent and its different cultures. Embracing the cultures here is something that I think we as South Africans are able to do especially well as we’re such a multi-cultural nation and team,” he says.
Kumar Sangakkara: “To win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 would mean everything to me, simply to play in a World Cup final would be fantastic. It’s not about the past or the future, it’s about the isolated moment in time which is the ICC CWC.”
“It’s about giving everything to this one goal, our hearts, souls, bodies everything to win it. As a captain it means the same, to win it would be fantastic, it would make me part of a wonderful team if we did win,” he adds.
Daniel Vettori: “It’s a tough tournament. It will be a challenge and the team that make it to the final will have to adapt well and that’s why the sub-continent teams will be favourite for this event."
“We need to put together some complete team performances with batting and bowling which we haven’t been able to do recently. This event is the pinnacle of limited-overs cricket, people still aspire to win it and I know it means so much to the players and to stand there at the end and win a Cricket World Cup, I don’t think there are many greater things in cricket to achieve.”
Graeme Smith: “It’s important to have a winning mindset for this tournament, especially when there are four or five teams who could win this event. It’s crucial to think like winners, we’d love to get our hands on a World Cup, it’s important to have that mindset and give yourself the best opportunity to win the ICC CWC.
“I think the sub-continent is something South Africa have embraced, the fanfare, the different style of wickets, it’s about embracing the sub-continent and its different cultures. Embracing the cultures here is something that I think we as South Africans are able to do especially well as we’re such a multi-cultural nation and team,” he says.
Kumar Sangakkara: “To win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 would mean everything to me, simply to play in a World Cup final would be fantastic. It’s not about the past or the future, it’s about the isolated moment in time which is the ICC CWC.”
“It’s about giving everything to this one goal, our hearts, souls, bodies everything to win it. As a captain it means the same, to win it would be fantastic, it would make me part of a wonderful team if we did win,” he adds.
Daniel Vettori: “It’s a tough tournament. It will be a challenge and the team that make it to the final will have to adapt well and that’s why the sub-continent teams will be favourite for this event."
“We need to put together some complete team performances with batting and bowling which we haven’t been able to do recently. This event is the pinnacle of limited-overs cricket, people still aspire to win it and I know it means so much to the players and to stand there at the end and win a Cricket World Cup, I don’t think there are many greater things in cricket to achieve.”
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