From spin to Proteas batting: Opening round sets the tone

Specialist spinners have made an early splash, and South Africa have made heads turn in unexpected ways

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There is more than what meets the eye when India aren't in the top-four despite handing Australia a heavy defeat in the first round of a World Cup. It's a testament to New Zealand's consistency and South Africa's quiet confidence that defending champions England or Sri Lanka - always a threat in the subcontinent-have been cut to size so ruthlessly so quickly, setting up an early run-in into the net run rates. Still a long way to go but sitting bottom with an NNR of -2.49, England have to play catch-up.

Expectedly, none of the matches went to the wire. Bangladesh won with 92 balls remaining, New Zealand with 82, and 250-260 seems to be emerging as a par score at most venues barring Delhi, where South Africa and Sri Lanka scored 754 runs. No pitch will be the same, meaning batters might hesitate to go on to their front foot, giving bowlers more scope to adapt and improvise. Powerplay batting too won't be as productive as a result. Basics will matter, and only the most balanced team is likely to come out on top. This, and more, are some of the major gleanings from a promising first round of the World Cup.

On more tricky pitches, Test basics matter

Ravindra Jadeja knew it the moment he had wheeled off some deliveries, Virat Kohli realised it after India had been reduced to 2/3 chasing Australia's 199. On a Chennai pitch that had a mind of its own- and had infamously changed nature overnight after England had won the first Test back in 2021Jadeja didn't try to improvise.