India, Feb. 7 -- In the most unpredictable of formats, there's an air of predictability around the inevitability of India making it to the business end of the World Cup. So dominant have Suryakumar Yadav's team been since India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph that they didn't require the home advantage to be branded favourites.

The billboards screaming in your face at every corner of the Wankhede stadium told you the showstoppers were in the house. Flanked by a clump of superfans, as India's team bus arrived on Thursday for pre-match training before their tournament opener against USA, guests from a bridal party at a wedding within the stadium premises, switched attention and began flashing their smartphone lenses.

The marketing blitz, the...