I did not see this coming. Not for one second. Not for a split second. Not for a millisecond. I didn’t even imagine it, couldn’t imagine it.
Admit it. You didn’t, couldn’t either.
India’s handsome 130-run victory over tournament favourites South Africa is a giant, screaming billboard of a statement. Beating Pakistan is one thing. Pakistan are, well, Pakistan. Dysfunctional and unpredictable. South Africa are their antithesis - well drilled and consistent.
India didn’t just bat better and bowl better, they actually fielded better than South Africa. Even the bowlers, a tribe universally ribbed for their lack of competence in the field, were hurling themselves about and firing in laser beams to run out AB de Villiers and David Miller.
India's Shikhar Dhawan celebrates his hundred runs with teammate Ajinkya Rahane. AP
After big red OUT flashed on the screen to send de Villiers back to the dressing room, the smile on MS Dhoni’s face told its own story. It was wide and it lit up his eyes. He was actually enjoying himself on the cricket field and no wonder. India’s performance was, to quote team director Ravi Shastri: “Clinical. Professional ... Fabulous.”
The batting had to come good and the top order is doing just that. Virat Kohli’s hundred was the anchor in the first game, Shikhar Dhawan’s hundred was the anchor in this one. Suresh Raina pounded the Pakistan bowlers, Rahane dismantled South Africa’s attack.
Dhawan is leading the run charts already, much as he did at the Champions Trophy in 2013. Composed and calm, he is no longer trying to dominate from the first ball. “Just playing on the merit of the ball,” he said later. “I knew I could get boundaries if I just played the ball on merit.” Back at No. 4, Rahane did what Rahane has been doing for the last year and a half – deliver when the teams needs him to. If Rohit Sharma finds a way to stay at the wicket, India’s top four can match up with the best in the world.
The only hiccup was once again losing quick wickets while searching for quick runs at the death. But India still managed their second successive score of at least 300.
India’s much maligned fast bowlers, who sleep-walked through tri-series, have transformed into a hungry pack of warriors hurling thunderbolts at over 140 kph. Mohammad Shami has found a sprinter’s rhythm as he bounds to the crease and the ball is coming out of his hand with the seam upright and gleaming. Umesh Yadav is bowling quicker than ever and harrying opposing batsmen the way Indian batsmen have been harried throughout cricket history. Mohit Sharma, who was not part of India’s original 15-man squad, bowled with pace and the control and accuracy that Dhoni loves and desires.
The spinners also attacked despite seemingly unfavourable conditions. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja weren’t simply there to hold one end up. They varied their pace and their line as they teased and tormented, never allowing the most powerful batting line-up in the tournament to dictate terms to them.
Already under pressure from having to chase 308, South Africa fell away like dead leaves in winter.
India were marshalled superbly by Dhoni, who was at his decisive, and more importantly, positive best. He was constantly looking to influence the game and appeared to be one step ahead of the action. After JP Duminy fell to Ashwin to leave South Africa six down, the match was all but over. Still, Dhoni promptly took off Mohit and brought back Shami, India's best bowler in this tournament. He was not about to take India's foot off South Africa's neck.
After a disappointing tri-series against Australia and England in which they did not win a game, and did not know who made up their best XI, India looked lost heading into the World Cup. Two dominating victories later, it is clear they must be taken seriously as defending champions. If India continue to play like this, they can win the World Cup again. In Australia no less.
For Shastri, India’s revival comes down to a simple reason: “There was too much cricket in a month’s period. They needed a break after the Test series... They were mentally tired and needed a break.”
The break came thanks to India’s failure to reach the tri-series final. Dhoni has also talked about how it gave India a chance to unwind and recharge for the World Cup. It has also allowed them to figure out their best team and their best strategies. Kohli is back at No. 3 and the need for five bowlers was accepted.
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In the group stages at least, the hardest job is done. India’s opponents are relatively weaker the rest of the way and there is no reason India should not finish top of Group B, setting up a quarter-final clash with a weaker team from Group A. With a week between games over the first three weeks, fatigue isn’t going to be a factor either.
The key will be to keep the run going. To go back to Shastri: “Just carry on being consistent. Don’t worry which opponent you are playing. Execute your plans to the best of your ability.”
If they do that, who knows? There may be other surprising results to come in this World Cup. Only now, it is possible to imagine them.
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