India's 10 year draught in ICC World Cricket Tournaments

India's failure yet again to cross the finish line having bowed out to Australia in front of a jam packed voracious home crowd raises lot of questions and speculations with regard to India's ability to claim victory in major world cricketing tournaments. This unfortunate pattern has been repeating for far too long exposing the frailties and one doubts if it's a psychological issue as a team laden with such strength and skill sets who performs admirably well right through a competition manages to capitulate when it comes to the high pressure knock out games.

It is now a span of 10 completed years since India has won anything of repute with their last major victory coming in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. There are 3 more marquee world events expected to play out within the next one and half years comprising of the T20 World Cup in mid 2024 played in the US & Caribbean followed by the ODI Champions Trophy taking place in Pakistan in early 2025 followed by the 3rd cycle of the World Test Championship in England during the first half of 2025. In this interim period between 2013 to 2023, almost all the Test playing nations have captured a title barring South Africa and Bangladesh. This certainly isn't something to be proud of for a country rich in cricketing culture and heritage.

Let's briefly summarize the big ticket world cricketing events that have taken place since the ICC Champions Trophy in England, 2013.

1) 2014 T20 World Cup - Host Bangladesh - Winner Sri Lanka

2) 2015 ODI World Cup - Host Australia - Winner Australia

3) 2016 T20 World Cup - Host India - Winner West Indies

4) 2017 Champions Trophy - Host England - Winner Pakistan

5) 2019 ODI World Cup - Host England - Winner England

6) 2021 World Test Championship - Host England (Final) - Winner New Zealand

7) 2021 T20 World Cup - Host UAE (India holding Rights) - Winner Australia

8) 2022 T20 World Cup - Host Australia - Winner England

9) 2023 World Test Championship - Host England (Final) - Winner Australia 

10) 2023 ODI World Cup - Host India - Winner Australia

Thus one can see there have been regular major events held almost every year with India having plenty of opportunities but not being able to triumph in any of the 10 events since the last ascendancy coming way back in 2013. Former players, analysts, pandits and fans have been quite raucous with some even calling out for a major reshuffle in the side especially in the T20 format advocating for bringing in more fresh legs and eliminating some of the older folks. 

All this might seem to be a bit too harsh considering the team overall did play some spectacular cricket in the recently concluded ODI world cup with just one off day plunging their fortunes. The criticism may seem to be a bit too far fetched but one thing is pretty clear that people have short memories and it's only the victories that count at the end of the day. Actually speaking it might seem to be a bit of a misnomer but factually speaking India have actually been the stand out team in ICC events over the past decade. They have virtually done exceptionally well in almost all the big events but alas without any silverware to showcase. In majority of the cases, India have just been short of a match or two from winning the whole tournament. The biggest flaw has been that the team has not been able to seize the initiative and have lacked the killer instinct in the must win do or die knock out games. Sadly, India will have to abide with the title of perennial chokers till they get this monkey off the back by actually winning something of repute.

Sharing a brief synopsis of India's performances down the years in the ICC World Events.
2014 T20 World Cup:
India entered the finals and were considered firm favorites to romp home after their stellar victory over South Africa in the semi finals. The final opponents were Sri Lanka, the side India defeated in the 2011 ODI World Cup. The Lankans were firm underdogs but pulled off a spectacular showing in the finals to topple India. India's batting which was clicking match after match grossly underperformed in the final having scored just 130 in the allotted 20 overs having lost just 4 wickets. This was too meagre a total for the Lankans who managed to get there without much of a hassle.

2015 ODI World Cup:
India managed to reach the semi finals without battling a sweat. In fact they were the only unbeaten side along with New Zealand till that stage winning all 6 of their group games along with sweeping aside the Bangladeshis in the quarter final encounter. But when it came to the big match semifinal against the hosts, India came a cropper caving in rather tamely. Australia put up a 300 plus score on the board with India never in the hunt losing by almost a three figure mark.

2016 T20 World Cup:
This was a home World Cup for India and the performance in the beginning was kind of muted. They however stepped up with a closely fought must win encounter against Bangladesh followed by a sizzling closely fought quarter final win over the Aussies setting up a semi final showdown against the Windies at the Wankhede. India put up a score of almost 200 and looked to drive home the advantage but this time the bowling didn't step up when needed allowing the Windies to go surging past the total. This was a great opportunity lost to win a world cup title at home.

2017 Champions Trophy:
Another tournament dominated by India till they came undone pretty badly in the finals against arch rivals Pakistan. India had in fact comfortably hammered the same opposition in the group stage match but when it came to the final, India were totally outclassed losing by a mammoth 180 run margin. India had again come in as the favorites for the final but the manner of defeat was pretty searing to say the least.

2019 ODI World Cup:
This was a 10 team edition with each team getting to play each other and the top 4 teams making it to the semi finals. India finished right on top of the 10 teams and got to play the Kiwis who had finished 4th. India again went into the semi finals as firm favorites but again swallowed the opportunity by failing to chase a reasonable score put up by New Zealand in a rain marred game. The batting totally let them down with the team losing wickets in a heap at the beginning. Jadeja and Dhoni did offer a great fightback but it was too much to claw at and in the end it was a bitter pill to swallow for India. This was perhaps one of the best chances missed by India to claim a World Cup in England since their maiden memorable victory way back in 1983. 

2021 T20 World Cup:
This was perhaps the only time India never really showed up in a world event over the last many years. India succumbed to Pakistan finally in a World Cup match losing their golden run that too in an abject embarrassing manner going down by 10 wickets. In the other must win game against their nemesis Kiwis, India's batting faltered again allowing New Zealand to win easily. Thus, India was knocked out of the tournament before the semifinals and it was quite a major disappointment. The event was supposed to be staged in India but got moved over to the Emirates due to the Covid factor with India still retaining the hosting rights for the event.

2021 World Test Championship: (2019-2021 Window)
This was the first ever Test Championship to have been staged after years of contemplation. The top two sides were to meet in the final and India were placed right at the top with an impressive array of victories in the test format during the window of 2019-2021 including a famous back to back series win down under against the Aussies. India again were tipped as favorites going into the final but again came undone against a methodological and resolute New Zealand side. This was the first world test championship to be conducted and it can be said that India certainly missed a golden chance to go atop the honors board.

2022 T20 World Cup:
Another World Cup and another disappointment. India won the game of the tournament against their arch rivals Pakistan and easily made it to the semifinals again topping their group. But it was an absolute day to forget for the Indians in the semi finals as a marauding England side made mincemeat of India's target barraging past the total without battling an eyelid not even losing a solitary wicket in the process. Australian conditions were suiting the Indian batsman and it looked like something huge was finally coming India's way but alas it was again not to be. 

2023 World Test Championship: (2021-2023 Window)
This was the second time the World Test Championship was being staged and India again found themselves among the top two teams and this time it was a new opponent in the form of Australia who were appearing in their first WTC final. India had just recently defeated the same side in a home test series and would have gone in with some confidence. But some poor reading of the conditions along with blatant selection mistakes cost India the match right on the first day after initiating the opposition into bat. It was again a wonderful opportunity missed through the door as India again earned the tag of being runners up for a second straight showing.

2023 ODI World Cup:
This would arguably rank as the biggest colossal monumental disappointment especially considering the way India had gone right through the tournament literally dispatching, demolishing and decimating all the opponents who had come by their wayside. This time they managed to overcome the Kiwis in the semifinal and taken their win count to 10 wins on the trot. But come the all important final when India went in as clear favorites, the ship sank once again in what was the biggest game of their lives in front of a massive home crowd. The pitch was perhaps the biggest deterrent but once again cometh the moment, India just caved into the pressure and succumbed meekly against an Aussie side who further cemented their legacy as the greatest white ball champions in the history of cricket. This was a complete all encompassing performance with almost not an iota to criticize but it all unfortunately fell apart in the marquee final once again putting an abrupt halt to what had been an absolutely impressive show until then.

India's 3 major world titles in 2007, 2011 and 2013:
India did win 3 major titles viz the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy all within the span of 2007-13. This might sound like a golden period but not many can recall that India faltered big time in all the other world tourneys around that ball park. After winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, India failed to even reach the semi finals in the next 3 editions that took place in 2009, 2010 and 2012. India also failed to muster up at the 2009 Champions Trophy by not being able to reach the knock out phase in continuation to what happened at home three years prior in CT 2006. But what matters is when it really came down to being noticed, India under the astute tutelage of Mahendra Singh Dhoni were able to claim 3 major world events within a short span by establishing to go all the way. A young India did the unthinkable by claiming the inaugural T20 World Cup. India were able to soak all the pressure and raised their game in the crucial stages to win the home ODI World Cup in 2011. India also managed to rake up a Champions Trophy victory by defeating the hosts England in the final in a rain curtailed 20 over game. 

Conclusion:
Thus stats and performance points out that India have not at all been a bad side when it comes to the major cricketing events conducted over the last decade. There have been some exceptional efforts coupled with plenty of individual brilliance but however when it really came to the crunch India as a team have not been able to deliver. It feels like a "Catch 22" situation but India have virtually been just a game or two away from winning almost all the major ICC events. It is definitely an irony that India has not been able to convert even one of those into a celebration. It has to be said that India has been poor when it comes to the clutch and this has happened a little way too often than expected. Nowadays, chances of winning big tournaments are higher for the players as many world cups keep happening routinely unlike the good old days when there was only one ODI world cup scheduled every 4 years. India have had too many one off bad days and every time that has come to haunt at the back end of the tournament unfortunately stalling their progress further. It may be argued that it's just a matter of time but India do have to measure and step up big time in the crucial stages. This current defeat in the home ODI World Cup of 2023 will rankle them no end as just one bad game curtailed their entire array of sterling performance right through the tournament. The pressure is only going to be all the more immense going forward with plenty of things to ponder like handling of senior players and getting the right mix in place for all 3 formats - Tests, ODIs and T20s. Hoping India is somehow able to get the mickey off the back and claim an illustrious multi nation cup victory very soon. It may be an irony but the fact is that consistent showings count for nothing because ultimately what sticks in memory is who wins at the end of the day.

Sachin the One Day International Batsman

Since 1994 when i started watching and enjoying cricket, one name has always been tied with the sport like a string attached to a guitar. There maybe cricketers who might match or even surpass your test records, but you are the one and only numero uno when it comes to the original form of limited overs cricket - One Day Internationals. How can I forget waking up early in the morning watching you score a trailblazing 82 off a mere 49 deliveries in your new avatar of One Day Opener, how thrilled was I seeing you score your 1st One Day Century against the Australians at the Singer Cup 94, then your 96 WC exploits with that blitzkrieg 90 against the Aussies at Mumbai and then I was so gutted when you got out stumped and India fell short of the target eventually by 16 runs. That 137 vs the Lankans on a misty day at Delhi with only a run out averting you from getting to 150 - what fun it was seeing you and Azhar rip the Lankan bowling attack in the last 5 overs. What about that glorious 104 at Benoni vs Zimbabwe when you had to get the target within just about 40 overs or so to reach the final vs South Africa, then that 1998 back to back hundreds under the Desert Storm in Sharjah - ah those vivid memories of you coming down the wicket and tonking Fleming and Kasprowicz for 6 with Tony Greig going bazooka is epic level of the highest order.

The year 1998 in entirety when you scored truckloads of centuries and officially assumed the status of God in the minds of millions of cricket fans, that unforgettable massacring of Henry Olonga at Sharjah when he thought he had the better of you hahahaha, that 186 not out vs the Kiwis on a field day when you were involved in the best ever partnership of 331 runs with Rahul Dravid, those pulverising sixes hit off Shoaib Akhtar over third man on way to a destructive 98 off a mere 70 odd deliveries in a crucial World Cup Indo Pak clash at Centurion, the brilliant 175 when you almost single handedly snatched a famous win chasing 350 against the Aussies at Hyderabad, the first ever double hundred in ODIs at Gwalior where you treated the South African bowlers with utter disdain. Coming to the memorable WC 2011 where you showed your class yet again on the big stage by cracking hundreds against both England and South Africa, your 85 against Pakistan probably one of your worst innings, but nevertheless helped Ind to defeat its arch rivals in a do or die Semifinal at Mohali thus taking India to the final and making your lifetime dream of winning a word cup come true and finally your laboured 100th international century which came against Bangladesh making you the first man on the planet to get to the coveted landmark. These are just a gist of evergreen glorious Sachin memories.

Sachin - you just didn't set benchmarks but you were a benchmark yourself. Thanks for all the moments, memories and entertainment. Your exploits on the cricketing field will be etched in the minds of millions of cricketing lovers forever. I still cant get over the fact that the next time i switch on my television to watch a ODI involving India, I won't be seeing the name Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar on the scoreboard.

 
One Day International Cricket will never be the same without your larger than life persona!

World Cup Razzmatazz!

Finally the biggest cricketing event has dawned upon us,the ICC Cricket World Cup. After the acrimonious and most disappointing world cup last time at the Carribean, this one promises to be anything but that and the expectations are soaring at an all time high. This also is believed to be the most open World Cup since 1996.

One of the biggest disappointments for me personally in this edition is the format.It has returned to its old format of 1996 where there'll be quarter finals.The problem being one can take it extremely easy in Round 1 and thereafter win 3 matches and you are crowned world Champions.I would have ideally preferred only 3 teams qualifying from both groups and play a super six with each team playing the other 3 teams of the opposing group and then semifinals and then finals.It would have been competitive right from Day 1,now teams can afford to take it easy though momentum plays a big role.

So who are the favourites ??? The bookmakers,analysts and the people favour India.I do not discount their confidence one bit.India does look favourites,the only weakness being their fast bowling department more so accentuated due to Zaheer's fitness.They may be put to test in high octane clashes especially if they have to chase in a high pressure knockout situation.

The other joint favourites Sri Lanka have a small chink in their armour,there's a small hole in the lower middle order and I'm wondering how they'll cope up if the top order perishes soon in a must win encounter.

South Africa look a well balanced side but their habit of choking especially in world cups will haunt them and they'll do everything to put rest to the Chokers tag.They are not playing at home and so wont be daunted by home pressure and it is probably their best chance to win a 1st world cup title.

Australia are for once not going in as favourites despite being the defending champions but never underestimate the wounded tigers.They have a good pace quartet and they really thrive on tough situations and especially since its going to be 3 wins to the cup from the quarters stage,you would be a brave man to right away their chances.

Pakistan are the dark horses and probably the most dangerous team in this years mega event.You never know some unknown unheard of youngster may just unleash his potential at the biggest stage.The biggest strength of Pakistan is their mercurial touch, sometimes its their biggest weakness also.The fact that they are not expected to do well might just bring out the best in them.

Frankly speaking,i expect only 1 of the above mentioned teams to be crowned the Champions when the world cup gets to its finale on 2nd Apr 2011.England i don't think muster enough to go all the way and expect them to fall in some pit way during the course of the event.The Windies are another team which can cause a flutter but they just lack the firepower to go all the way through.The Co-hosts Bangla Boys are expected to do pretty well and rightly so.It wont be surprising for me if they do make it to the last 8 but beyond that there is a Question Mark.The Kiwis had a pathetic record in 2010 and i expect that to continue.They are in shambles at the moment and barring one or two upsets i just don't see the potential in them to go all the way.

So whose it going to be ?? Will Ricky Ponting's magnificent run as Aussie World Cup Winning Captain come to an end ?? Will Pakistan under the mercurial leadership of Afridi show their magic ?? Will Graeme Smith have the perfect swansong as ODI Captain and also get rid of the Choker's tag which has been plaguing them for years?? Will Sanga for SL go one better than his mate Mahela in 2007.?? Will MS Dhoni and his team fulfil the desires and dreams of 1 Billion Indian Cricket Fans??
All the Q&A will be answered come, the 2nd of Apr 2011 at Wankhede Stadium,Mumbai.
As an avid cricket fan,expecting the World Cup to be enthralling, entertaining, emotional, enriching and edge of the seat!