How were we considered in ODI cricket before 2011 WC?

[Scar]

So, I came across an interesting comment from an Indian replying to a Pakistani on a post with title - Whom would you want to face in semi-final, India or Australia? Most of the Pakistani fans said India, mainly because they will be much tougher team to beat and will be real challenge. The chuffed Indian replied, " I never thought I would see a day when India will be considered a team dangerous than Australia. "

 

So, I did some digging and we were #5 in ODI ranking back then and gawd... that bowling attack. I criticise Dhoni but how did he managed to win with 'that' bowling line-up (except zaheer) is beyond me. 

I didn't follow cricket before 2011, so can anyone tell me about how we were perceived in the cricketing fraternity as an ODI unit? 

[IndianRenegade]

@Scar it’s been 8 yrs, I don’t exactly remember everything but I can say we were definitely perceived as a far better team than the team of late 90’s and 2000’s. With Yuvi, Raina, Kohli India was definitely one of the better fielding sides out there than their counter parts of the 90’s. 

 

When I look at the team of 2011, it seems like a totally opposite to what we have now in terms of capabilities. We were a far better batting unit.Sachin & Sehwag at the top were a fearsome opening pair, with GG at no. 3. A middle order that had Virat (he still hadn’t become the superstar that he is now), an inform Dhoni, Raina & yuvraj looks a far cry from what we have now , struggling to find the no. 4 and finisher to complement Hardik.

 

our bowling then wasn’t top notch as now , but can hold its own. Zaheer was brilliant, Nehra could hold his own, Bajji wasn’t bad either, we had a middle order which can bowl a few overs and yuvi was comfortably completing his 10, which meant we could go in with one less bowler and go in with a strong batting order which we can back to get any total. Sometimes the rankings always don’t tell the whole story.

Edited July 5, 2019 by IndianRenegade

[SRT100]

India had a very lethal batting unit, before 2011 with younger versions of Tendulkar, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Dhoni, all 4 batsmen could and had won the game for India off their own batting. Each was a powerful force to be reckoned with.

[Stan AF]

Indian bowling is at its prime best now.

Indian batting was at its prime best then.

 

The team of today didn't have the batting of then. The team of then didn't have the bowling of today.

[Stan AF]

Having said that, I for in a million years didn't think our bowling would be in its potent best as it is right now. Sure there's still room for finer improvements, bench strength and what not but still it is a massive improvement over what we used to have.

[Ranvir]

The batting was really good but the bowling was quite impotent.

 

India posted some mammoth scores (especially for 2011) against England and South Africa and failed to win both matches. Zaheer, Nehra and Munaf were trundlers and Harbhajan was bowling flat darts.

 

You don't know how good India have it in this World Cup with 3 bowlers capable of bowling around 90mph consistently. 

 

It was better for India to chase in 2011, the complete opposite of this edition. I doubt India would have won in 2011 if the World Cup was played overseas. They got absolutely hammered by England in the tests and ODIs that followed.

[neel roy]

18 minutes ago, Ranvir said:

The batting was really good but the bowling was quite impotent.

 

India posted some mammoth scores (especially for 2011) against England and South Africa and failed to win both matches. Zaheer, Nehra and Munaf were trundlers and Harbhajan was bowling flat darts.

 

You don't know how good India have it in this World Cup with 3 bowlers capable of bowling around 90mph consistently. 

 

It was better for India to chase in 2011, the complete opposite of this edition. I doubt India would have won in 2011 if the World Cup was played overseas. They got absolutely hammered by England in the tests and ODIs that followed.

I beg to disagree..India got unlucky in the odis at least..one ended in tie and two others India lost as rain came and Bairstow killed us if I remember correctly

[Suhaan]

I remember reading ratings of each team published in  newspapers,we were considered number 1 contender for the title across every newspaper

We were a batting powerhouse back then and being a host nation we were overwhelming favourites back then and coincidentally Aussies were on a slight deckine,so literally no one was there to stop us

Edited July 5, 2019 by Suhaan

[bhakum20]

2003 anyone? Our bowling was bit wayward but Nehra and Zaheer were on fire bowling close to 150 and taking wickets (well except for the final), with Srinath providing the perfect anchor role. 2003 team was a top team, perfectly balanced in both bat and ball. After that I don't know what happened we really shat the bed till Dhoni started leading a resurgence from 2008 or so.

Edited July 5, 2019 by bhakum20

[Sandeep99]

India had the best batting line up between 2007-11. Imagine fielding a team like this -

 

Sachin

Sehwag

Gambhir

Kohli

Yuvraj

Dhoni

Raina.....

 

Kohli was the weak link of that line up. Go figure...

[Ajju]

Best Batting lineup + Dhoni

[Scar]

Thanks guys for the response. It was a gun batting line up as far as I remember and I used to despise Rohit for not opening in Sehwag-esque manner and blast opposition's strike bowler out of the park like he did to Umar gul in Mohali.

 

I think, my generation is lucky to see so many real fast bowlers play for India all at once. Credit to Indian domestic setup for changing our fortunes. 

[mani sha]

2011 team had great balance 

the bowling for perfect for subcontinent 

 

Bhajji Kumble Zaheer yuvi all rounder 

Tendulkar and Sehwag bowled well too

 

nehra and Munaf were not trundlers 

munaf bowled cutters and nehraji could crank to 145 if he needed . It was a taylor made attack for subcontinent with only one new ball - reverse was a big factor and Zaheer nehraji and munaf were good exponents of reverse .

 

game has changed now - two new balls favor wrist spinners and out and out fast bowlers 

 

as regards batting - yuvi hit peak form and Dhoni was excellent then

 

sehwag ate spinners for lunch breakfast and dinner - few people remember how he decimated Bangladesh in the World Cup and I felt Bangla was a good team then too

 

srt and gambhir formed good opening pair . 

 

Kohli li was not yet kohli but Raina was an amazing power hitter and could bowl 

 

in the current team all u need is two good batters like Raina and yuvi and u will see we will beat england or any other team 

 

that team has zaheer who in my opinion is the best bowler india has ever produced - better than bumrah as he could pick wickets , contain , reverse , york at will . And won us a champions trophy , a world t20 and a world cup

[Ajju]

Kumble was retired before 2011 i think

[mani sha]

Yes sreesanth played final with Zaheer and munaf 

chawla was legspinner ! Didn’t play much .. but still was not that bad . Pitches favored finger spinners 

[bowl_out]

3 hours ago, Sandeep99 said:

India had the best batting line up between 2007-11. Imagine fielding a team like this -

 

Sachin

Sehwag

Gambhir

Kohli

Yuvraj

Dhoni

Raina.....

 

Kohli was the weak link of that line up. Go figure...

Even then No.4 was the weak link 

[Sachinism]

I think we started getting **** together around 2009. Were a pretty good outfit by the time the WC came around

[Vilander]

11 hours ago, Scar said:

didn't follow cricket before 2011, so can anyone tell me about how we were perceived in the cricketing fraternity as an ODI unit? 

Teams of batsmen that were great in home conditions except for Sachin and Dravid. And team which had good spinners and never hadnfast bowlers. Other teams always had option of speaking about chin music etc you wont hear that now. Teams would expect to come in with fast bowlers and see Indian batsmen being rolled over.

[Vijy]

top batting lineup in 2011 WC and batsmen who could bowl (SRT, sehwag, raina and of course yuvi). bowling barring zak was ordinary.

[zen]

It was one of the favorites. In fact started out as an overwhelming fav but scrapped in a few games to raise some questions esp. about bowling when Eng tied and SA chased 290 odd but in the end put its act together to pull through 

 

In this WC, Eng is probably playing like Ind of 2011