PTI
Dubai, February 2
Defending champions India will enter the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in second spot behind leaders Australia.
After failing to win a single game in the recently concluded tri-series, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side trail Australia by six points in the ODI rankings, according to an ICC media release.
Australia, who won the tri-series after humbling England in the final, are comfortably placed at the top with 120 ranking points followed by India (114) and South Africa (113).With just a few more international matches left to go before the the 50-over showpiece event kickstarts on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand, the 14 competing teams are gearing up for the warm-up matches slated between 8-13 of this month.
Meanwhile in the player rankings, India’s Virat Kohli is at the number three spot in the batsman’s chart with South Africa’s AB de Villers and Hashim Amla at the No.1 and 2 position respectively.
Other Indians in the top-10 of the batting table include Shikhar Dhawan (7), whose lack of form in the tri-series came under intense criticism by one and all, and Dhoni at number eight.
The bowling, which is a major cause of worry for the Men in Blue before the World Cup, also disappoints with no Indian in the top-10 of the bowling chart. Medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13) and Ravindra Jadeja (14) are the only Indian bowlers in the top-20 list headed by Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal.
In what promises to be an exciting World Cup, a total of 42 matches will be played throughout the group stage of the tournament. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Ishant Sharma in doubt for World Cup: Reports
AGencies
MUmbai, February 2
Mohit Sharma is likely to replace Ishant Sharma in the Indian squad for the 2015 World Cup. According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, the BCCI has given the team management the deadline of February 05 to finalise the squad and weed out the injured players. The report stated that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami are all having fitness issues but Ishant’s case is more serious.
Mohit bowled with good pace and accuracy during India’s match against England in Perth and he finished with figures of 10-1-36-2. Ishant has been suffering from a knee injury since the end of the Melbourne Test in December. He missed the Sydney Test and was not picked for the first two ODIs in the tri-series. He resumed training and was picked in the Australia Day clash in Sydney but the match was rained out and Ishant was unable to bowl. He was dropped for the Perth match against England and the doubts over his fitness has only grown. The report also stated that Mohit has been told not to leave Australia.
The BCCI have refused to talk about the fitness issues of the team. However, sources within the BCCI told Mumbai Mirror that there will be some changes to the squad. A source said, “We can’t sit back and watch silently. There is a need to address the issue before it is too late. We’ll take a final call by February 05. At this stage, Ishant looks doubtful for World Cup.”
There are concerns regarding Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s injury and form as well. Bhuvneshwar, who missed the first three Tests due to an ankle injury, featured in the Sydney Test but he looked rusty and his pace was down. The BCCI is reportedly keeping Bhuvneshwar under the scanner but there is no further clarity on his status.
The Indian players have opted to take a break and the BCCI have booked them in a resort near Adelaide to help the team recover. They will come back to Adelaide on February 05 and resume training ahead of their first warm-up game against Australia on February 08. India will open their World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15.
