In their first match of the 2015 World Cup, India beat Pakistan by 76 runs at the Adelaide Oval -- a scoreline that belies the even easier nature of the win. It also seems slightly unbelievable... given their run of form coming into the match. But they also turned in the perfect team performance.
Pressure can do strange things to people but in World Cups... against Pakistan... in front of a full house... with billions watching at home... it just seems to inspire the best out of India over and over again.
When the curtains fell on another day of cricket, India had extended their unbeaten record against Pakistan to 6-0.
After India elected to bat first, Rohit Sharma was back in the pavilion early but Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli put on a century partnership. Suresh Raina joined Kohli at the fall of Dhawan's wicket and put another 100-plus runs. It got to a point where India had a respectable total even before the start of the slog overs. The eventual total of 300-7 was perhaps 20-30 runs short of what skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have liked but it gave the struggling bowlers the cushion they needed.
Bowling has been India's weak suit all through the tour of Australia but today, they came to the party as well. Ashwin became the first Indian bowler to bowl three maidens in a World Cup since 1979. Umesh Yadav took two wickets (albeit off two poor deliveries), Mohammadd Shami took another four. Mohit Sharma picked up two wickets. Ravindra Jadeja was in control and India needed to use the sixth bowler Raina for just one over as Pakistan were bowled out for 224.
"In the batting department, there were partnerships. They didn't do anything silly and lose wickets as opposed to the tri-series. Even in the bowling, if there was one good over, it was backed up from the other end. They bowled in tandem... like all good bowling units do," said a visibly pleased Team Director Ravi Shastri after the match.
It was as good a team performance that the 41,587 fans at the ground or the millions around the world could have expected. It was a good pitch but it was initially two-paced and India needed to play through that period. They managed that very well. They also managed the expectations of being defending World Champions very well.
Dhoni has for a while been trying to deflect the pressure of the Indian team by saying that this is just another game. But from the looks on the faces of all the players, it was clearly much more. Their approach to everything was impressive -- Kohli's calm, Raina's belligerence, Dhawan's risk-free approach. It was the kind of sensible cricket that we just don't expect India to play anymore (after their play in the tri-series i.e.).
Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar was clearly impressed, "This is how World Champion teams play. You can't always be ahead of the game but India showed they could come back (into the match). This is how World Champions need to think."
It was a telling statement. It was a performance that will put the others on alert but it also also one that should be taken with a pinch of salt. To many watching, it was also clear that Pakistan self-destructed. The Indian bowlers didn't try to be too extravagant but during a 10-ball period Pakistan lost three wickets for very little. It knocked the stuffing out of them and left skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to fight a lone battle.
A dejected Misbah in the post-match conference was at a loss of words: "I can't say much about the batting. They lasted 1-2 balls and that isn't how it should have been. After that, it was tough."
That takes nothing away from India's win but it also means there are still gaps in performance; gaps that should not be swept under the carpet in the euphoria surrounding the win. When Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail were together, India's bowling looked pretty toothless and that is something even Dhoni is wary of.
"The bowling needs to continue to perform. We can't expect that batting to score 300 in every match. And that is why, the bowlers have to do their job," said Dhoni in the post-match conference.
On the other hand, it is always good to begin with a win; especially when the win primes you to finish among the top two teams in your group.
"Because of the format of the tournament, this was a very important win. There is a week between matches. If you had not got off to a good start, that waiting game could have killed you," said Shastri.
The loss would have weighed on the morale of the team, which has an average age of 25. But the win allows them to move forward with confidence. It allows them to hit the nets with renewed vigour; it allows them to dream yet again. Well, not just them. Some Australians might say Shastri is dreaming too.
"We will take stock and try to be consistent," said Shastri before adding the kicker. "I repeat, if there is one team that can take Australia out of this World Cup, it is this Indian team and they are going to get better as the tournament goes on."
It was the kind of bluster we have come to expect of Shastri but perhaps, for once, he can blame it on India's perfect start.
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