WORLD CUP 2015 -

To Predict which teams are likely to reach the finals, let's look at the tournament structure and logically decide how the teams will progress

14 teams compete for the trophy and the tournament is split in 4 phases

• Group Phase - There are two groups and every team plays with every other team in its group once. As all phases after the group stage is a knock out, the position in which every team ends up in the Group stage becomes critical.
• Quarter Finals - Top 4 teams from each group makes the Quarter Final Round.
• Semi Final
• Finals

Now let's look how the teams are grouped

Pool-A
We can safely assume Afghanistan & Scotland will not progress beyond the Group Stage. Unless Bangladesh causes an upset, England Australia,Srilanka & New Zealand will make it to the Quarter Final.

Lets look at the positions in which these 4 four teams will finish the Group Stage.

1. Australia - As always they would top the group
2. Srilanka - They should win all games except for the match against Australia
3. New Zealand - Home conditions would help them in finishing above England
4. England - Given their recent performances, this is the maximum they can expect

Pool-B
Zimbabwe & UAE will not progress beyond the Group stage. Unless Pakistan messes up Ireland will exit at Group stage. So South Africa, India, Pakistan and West Indies are teams likely to enter the QF.

Now lets look at how these 4 teams finish the group stage

1. South Africa - Group Stages is too early for them to Choke
2. India - They should win all games except for the match against SA
3. Pakistan - If they can play to their potential they can finish above WI
4. West Indies - With no Bravo & Pollard they lack the fire power to challenge the top three

Having established how the teams would finish the group stage, lets look the next round

Quarter Finals

• 1st QF - Australia vs West Indies - No Brainer. It doesn't get easier than this for Australia
• 2nd QF - Srilanka vs Pakistan - This would be a tight contest. Srilanka's batting all round strength and experience should take them through
• 3rd QF - New Zealand vs India - Barring a McCullum Master piece or an Indian collapse, India should progress
• 4th QF - England vs South Africa - England had been lucky enough to reach here. SA should go through easily

So Australia, Srilanka, India & South Africa would make it to the semis

Semi Finals

• 1st Semi Final - Australia vs India - End of Road for India. Overcoming Australia in their Home could be very difficult for India.
• 2nd Semi Final - Srilanka vs South Africa - South Africa should make it to the final given their bowling strength and conditions favorable for their pace attack

Finals

Finals - Australia vs South Africa
 
This is going to be one of the fiercely contested finals. Will South Africa lift the cup for the first time or will they choke and result in Australia lifting the cup for the fifth time.

We have to wait till 29th March.
But Personally I believe South Africa has everything to win this World cup

Regards :

Vikram Singh Rana