World Cup 2015: India's success so far has come in unconventional ways

In this World Cup, India hasn’t just turned conventional wisdom on its head; they have done so in unconventional ways. This tournament has seen the bouncer surpass the yorker and slower ball as the bowler’s favourite weapon. Brydon Coverdale on ESPNcricinfo explains the allure. “It is a World Cup. It is one-day cricket. Runs must be scored, bowlers must be dominated. Play the shot, the batsman tells himself. The other voice in his head says, these pitches are quick, save yourself. Does he trust Dr Jekyll or Mr Hide?” That India have been the team to best use the bouncer to nothing less than an upending of cricket history. India’s fast bowlers - Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma - have taken 35 wickets out 60 in India’s six games and done it mostly by winding batsmen up with the short ball and encouraging them to pull and hook. It is a theory. [caption id=“attachment_2160611” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mohammed Shami is the leading wicket-taker for India in the tournament. AFP[/caption] At the same time, India have persisted with two frontline spinners in their XI, the only to team to do so. Other teams have even gone into games with no specialist spinner. The game against Zimbabwe aside, the spinners – R Ashwin in particular - have teased and tormented with flight and guile, taken wickets and withheld runs. It is India’s traditional blueprint but one that wasn’t supposed to travel well. The fielding too has been transformed. It was shambolic on the tour of England. The slip catching was a disgrace. No matter what India tried, or whom, the result was the same. Everyone had a case of butterfingers. In this tournament, with the exception of the game against Ireland, India have been the safest catching side in the tournament. At one stage, they were the only team not to have dropped a catch – a perfect 15 out of 15. Above all, India have played with a sense of freedom and abandon that was largely missing during their overseas sojourn over the previous months. Ravi Shastri, India’s Director of Cricket, has made a point of saying the team needs to enjoy their cricket. Winning tends to improve a team’s attitude but the players are clearly having a good time in the middle. Virat Kohli’s imitation of Shahid Afridi’s starman pose is the perfect example. In a high pressure game, Kohli was relaxed enough to have a little fun at Afridi’s expense after taking a catch to dismiss him. It wasn’t aggressive, in-your-face attitude. It was cheeky and exuberant. And while the Indian media isn’t happy about it, perhaps the decision to cocoon the team away from prying ears and eyes has created a little more breathing room for the players. The numbers were not in India’s favour coming into the tournament. From the start of the 21st century to the start of this World Cup, India had won just 14 of their 40 ODIs in Australia (22 losses, one tie and three no results) against all opposition. That’s a win percentage of 35 percent. Teams that win 35 percent of their matches don’t win World Cups. Then there was the Tri-series before the tournament, during which India looked like they were having as much fun as a fish being clubbed to death. Did we hope? Of course. Hope springs eternal in the human breast. But a month ago, it was only true believers that backed India to mount a rousing defense of their 2011 World Cup trophy. A month, it turns out, is a long time in cricket.