India has reached the business end of World Cup

It seems the World Cup has been going on for many years and in that period many pointless matches were played, many records smashed. Now, with less than a week for it to end, it is serious business with the top four in a perform or perish situation. No second chance, no second innings. One false move, one mistake and it is time to board a flight to go home.

Predictably, the four teams expected to make the semis have come through. This was the popular choice of the expert and the enthusiast, the pundit and the paanwala. For once the fans, bookies and commentators got the lineup right. Clearly, there is a glaring gulf between the ones who made it and others who missed out.

The highlight of the unending cricket carnival is the consistent slaughter of bowlers. Batsmen (liberated by T20 cricket, assisted by monster bats and field restrictions) have put up huge totals on the board. With 300 plus just about par in 50 overs and 100 from the last ten pretty much routine perhaps the day is not far when someone scores 300 from 180 balls.

Even as batsmen flourished, two standout bowling performances remain etched in memory. When Australia played NZ in a league game the pace bowlers called the shots, first Boult (5/27) and then Starc (6/28). Both produced wonderful spells and in a low scoring game there was sanity not carnage in a nail biting, riveting contest.

Similar magic was produced by Wahab Riaz when he bowled a magnificent spell to Shane Watson. Wahab was seriously sharp and deadly accurate - this was high quality stuff to a high quality player, and for once the ball had the upper hand against the bat.

This apart, it has been a relatively quiet World Cup for bowlers, specially spinners. Tahir and Duminy have had their moments and Vettori has been miserly but we are yet to see a match decided by quality spin.

As India play Australia, the key question is whether the team can carry its momentum forward for two more days. Since the thrashing through the Aussie summer, much has changed for Dhoni's men. Bowlers who were struggling to get past tailenders have suddenly discovered speed, discipline and direction - they are now asking tough questions of the top order, picking wickets up front and bowling sides out.

Is India, then, the "bullet side" Ravi Shastri promised us it would become? Will MSD live up to the slogan of "not giving back" the World Cup?

Nobody has answers to these questions, cricket is uncertain and its one day format is decidedly tricky. Form is India's ally but it takes only a few balls for disaster to happen. Plus there is the dreaded law of averages which suggests a bad day is just round the corner after a spell of spectacular success.

As India enters the business end of the World Cup there is anxiety, also massive hope and expectation. Already prayers are being said to all Gods across India and MPs are singing songs praising Dhoni in Parliament as if the deal is done and dusted. If the Indian captain can somehow pull off two more wins to win the World Cup for the second time, "ache din" would certainly have arrived!