Five things we learned in the first week of the world cup

Rahul, spinners need to click for India
KL Rahul repaid the selectors’ faith in him by producing two match-winning innings in quick succession: against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and against Australia in India’s opening match of the World Cup. He is the glue that can bind the middle order.The rate at which he is capable of scoring bolsters India’s prospects in the middle overs. His form is crucial to India’s chances in this tournament. The strategy of selecting three quality spinners worked a treat against Australia, with Ravindra Jadeja particularly potent. On slow pitches, at least one of the spinners must be lethal for India to make good use of their home advantage. They got away without that happening on a flat Delhi pitch against Afghanistan because , well , it was Afghanistan but also Jasprit Bumrah’s genius and Rohit Sharma’s magic. Against top sides, it will be a different story.

South Africa have a devastating batting unit
South Africa racked up quite a few batting records in their fearsome, clinical display of hitting against Sri Lanka: the highest innings score in a World Cup; the fastest century in a World Cup; the first instance in a World Cup when an innings saw three individual centurions. Quinton de Kock seems to have hit a purple patch with two backto-back centuries. Fast bowling has been South Africa’s traditional strength.

This time around, if the batters click as they did in their first two matches, the batting unit is destructive. Every opposition team has been warned. Not for nothing do they sit on top of the points table.

New Zealand are no pushovers
Before the tournament, not many gave New Zealand’s aging, injury-hit side much of a chance. But their dismantling of the defending champions, England, was a masterclass of ruthless, attacking play. The Netherlands were more accommodating opponents in New Zealand’s second game, but the Kiwis were professional and ruthless while cantering to victory.

The Netherlands, Afghanistan and Bangladesh may merely be making up the numbers
An upset in sport is always possible – and welcome – but there seems to be a gulf of difference between these three sides and those who are dining at the top table. The Netherlands, having played two, have zero points .

Afghanistan haven o points either. Bangladesh’s only victory was against Afghanistan. They were walloped b y England.

It is hard to see them being genuinely competitive against any of the tournament contenders. Sri Lanka, oddly enough, have no points either, having lost twice despite racking up scores above 300 on both occasions.

This is likely to be an open world cup
Before the tournament began, most observers and pundits had Australia, India, Pakistan and England down for places in the semifinal.

But the manner in which the first week has gone, as well as the format of the tournament in which each team plays every other side in a round robin with the top four going through to the semifinal, makes it not quite such an easy call. Pakistan were superb against Sri Lanka. They will be properly tested when they take on India on Saturday.

No one could have predicted New Zealand spanking England the way they did. South Africa have made a resounding start with two wins in two games. Australia’s lack of depth in spin bowling has put them in a precarious position Anything, really, is possible.