T20 World Cup: Team India - One favourite, many dangers

Dubai Stadium

As the main round of the T20 World Cup gets underway today, the million-dollar question is who would hold aloft the trophy at the Dubai Stadium on November 14. Will it be perennial favourites India. Or will it be one of the three teams who have never won the title in six attempts - Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Or could it be two-time winners West Indies?

Defending champions West Indies will be starting their campaign when they take on England in Dubai. Before that, Australia and South Africa will lock horns in an afternoon match in Abu Dhabi.

However, the most eagerly-awaited contest of the tournament would be on Sunday when India face arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai.

Considering the conditions in the UAE, the sultry weather and the sluggish pitches on which spinners are likely to be more dominant, one could say that an Asian side are more likely to use the conditions to their advantage and emerge triumphant.

Asian teams will dominate

And what better team to do that than India who have all bases covered, going into the main round. Considering the vagaries of the format, where any team is capable of upsetting any other team, most sides must be fancying their chances, especially the Asian teams Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or even Afghanistan.

Of course, it would be too simplistic to consider the tournament as being Asia versus the Rest as most of the top players of various countries have been regularly playing in the IPL and have got used to the Asian conditions.

Thus, Australia, England, the 50-overs World Cup champions, and even Test champions New Zealand can be considered among the front-runners. Or will it be the day for one of the four qualifiers who have joined the top eight teams in Super 12s? Scotland and Bangladesh from Group A and Sri Lanka and Namibia from Group B have made it to the main round.

Wary of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka had of course won the tournament in 2014 in Bangladesh and despite going through the qualifiers, they are the side who on their day can surprise any team.

Bangladesh on the other hand, have always promised much, but delivered little. This time too after the shock defeat at the hand of Scotland, they cannot be rated anywhere near being prospective winners.

What the tournament promises over the next 23 days and 33 matches, is some exciting cricket and close finishes. The team that overcomes all hurdles and challenges and also the pressures of the expectation, will emerge the champions.

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