India Holds the Aces in Its Opener Against a Wounded South Africa

Kohli’s men, rested and refreshed, will be keen to hit the ground running; the Proteas are in a predicament after two defeats and injuries to Steyn and Ngidi

- K.C. Vijaya Kumar

It’s been a week since the ICC World Cup commenced with the game involving England and South Africa at the Oval. The last few days witnessed a medley of lop-sided clashes and nerve-shredding upsets but India, cricket’s commercial heart, was yet to stride onto the turf.

After the Indian Premier League concluded on May 12, Virat Kohli’s men rested a bit, jetted to holiday destinations and a few of them lit up their Instagram accounts.

Mixed bag

Once they assembled back in the United Kingdom, two warm-ups were played. The mixed bag featured a defeat against New Zealand and a triumph over Bangladesh.

Finally, India will turn up at the World Cup when it takes on South Africa at the Hampshire Bowl here on Wednesday.

Interestingly when Kohli addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon, a conch being blown could be briefly heard.

Obviously a fan had sounded out the battle call and the expectations are bound to quadruple.

India holds the aces against a rival that is coping with its present predicament of having suffered two losses.