There's optimism among Indian cricket fans that the Cup should be coming home: Sunil Gavaskar

Despite Team India being a sublime force in world cricket at the moment, especially in the shortest format of the game, they have somehow failed to cross the line in the grandest of events, giving rise to a few questions. However, as we head towards another edition of the T20 World Cup, former Indian opener, Sunil Gavaskar, believes that this should ideally be India’s year, especially with preparations ahead of the showpiece event.

India will be heading into this encounter on the back of two successful T20I series triumphs where they schooled Australia and South Africa at home. Even ahead of the upcoming extravaganza, India emerged victorious in the warm-up contest against the hosts, effecting a significant turnaround of affairs as Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli were the primary figures who gave a totally different shape to the contest.

In his column for Mid-Day, Sunil Gavaskar wrote, “One thing for sure. If the Indian team does not win this T20 World Cup it won't be for lack of preparation. Not only have they gone to Australia almost three weeks before their first game of the tournament, but they are also playing practice games against good sides that should get them ready for the tournament. The old saying, 'if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail' will not apply to this Indian team as, apart from these games in Australia, they also played six T20 matches at home and won four out of those to show that they are tuning in nicely for the big event.”

He further added that despite the absence of Jadeja and Bumrah, India still remains a titanic force in the tournament, stating, “India's performance in the white ball bilaterals has always been good, be it at home or overseas, but it's in the multilateral events that they have been stumbling. In the past, it's been because they have come cold into the event. But that isn't the case this time around and that's why, with a terrific blend of youth and experience, there's optimism among Indian cricket fans that the Cup should be coming home. Yes, the other teams have also been playing practice games and that should hold them in good stead, but there's a buzz about this Indian team despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.”

He concluded by talking about the unpredictable nature of the format, as he said, “The T20 game can turn on its head in a matter of deliveries so the best of teams can flounder and that's why it's hard to call any team the favourite. The host country are also the defending champions so they obviously will have the slight edge that familiarity with conditions and pitches give any home team plus the crowd support. The Indian team is blessed that it gets support anywhere they play and so even overseas they have tremendous cheer from their fans. That can also be pressure, but then, what is international sport where the best of one country play the best of the other and what else is that but pressure and more pressure.”