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India crush Australia by 243 runs
India continued their impressive build up for the ICC Champions Trophy, which starts later this week, with an amazing demolition of Australia. Read More...India vs South Africa Preview
So, it is only a day before the last edition of ICC champions trophy kicks off in England. India and South Africa will be playing the inaugural match of this tournament at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, tomorrow. Read More...Kohli, Karthik smash India to win over Sri Lanka
Despite being outplayed for much of their first ICC Champions Trophy warm up match, and looking distinctly second best, India somehow contrived the most unlikely of victories, over their Asian rivals, Sri Lanka, at Edgbaston. Read More...Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals Preview
The West Indies coach Ottis Gibson, revealed that the members who are at camp in Barbados would be putting in some hard work, along with team bonding exercises. In Cardiff, there will be more hard work, and specific preparation for the tournament. Gibson went on to say that the key to success in this competition will be to acclimatise to English conditions as quickly as possible, and that his side were very lucky to have a number of players who are familiar with English conditions. The West Indies will play two warm up matches, against Australia and Sri Lanka, as part of their preparation. Before they open their tournament proper with a game on June 7 against Pakistan. In Group B, they will also play against South Africa and India. Read More...Pune Warriors vs Delhi Daredevils Preview
After losing a tight game, the dismal Delhi Daredevils now look to save some pride as they face the nose-diving Pune Warriors, who also need to bring back their lost reputation, tomorrow. This 71st fixture of IPL 6 will be hosted by the Warriors at Pune. Read More...Pune Warriors vs Mumbai Indians Preview
After securing a huge victory in their last match, the Mumbai Indians will now face the dismal Pune Warriors, tomorrow. This 58th match of the IPL is all set to be hosted by the Warriors at Pune. Read More...Pune Warriors vs Kolkata Knight Riders Preview
The two teams that are reeling at the bottom of the table will be battling it out at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium when the lacklustre Pune Warriors India side takes on the hapless Kolkata Knight Riders. Read More...Durham won't host India, Australia
Confirmation that the newer venues on the international calendar in England and Wales are struggling to make hosting international matches a financially viable concern, was given further evidence, as Durham withdrew their hosting right to matches against India and Australia during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Read More...SLC could recall players from IPL
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been thinking of recalling some Sri Lankan players currently playing in the IPL. The board is going to hold a meeting next week to take decision about it. There is a possibility that it will request to the BCCI to discharge some underperforming players so that they can take preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Read More...Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Preview
After losing yet another match, the Kolkata Knight Riders will now face the ever improving Rajasthan Royals, in the 47th fixture of IPL 6, tomorrow. The Eden Gardens, Kolkata is all set to host this expected enthralling encounter. Read More...India ICC World Cup 2011 Profile
Are they ready ready to capture the tropy this time?
Strength
India's biggest strength is their batting; how else can one describe the fact that more than six months after Sachin Tendulkar scored the first double century of this format of the game ever, he has yet to play in another match. Even in his absence, the Indian team has done well and that goes to show the potency of the others in the line-up. The likes of Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag and captain MS Dhoni himself have all plundered the opposition bowling at will and should be India's biggest strength.
Weakness
Where India has often struggled is bowling in the slog overs. The Indian bowlers may start reasonably well and then have the spinners throttling the opposition in the middle overs. However, it is towards the end of the innings that they have shown a propensity to go for runs. Lack of capability when it comes to bowling yorkers at will coupled with the use of batting powerplays by teams in the slog overs have made life difficult for the Indian bowlers.
Opportunity
The biggest chance for the Indians is that they will be playing in the sub-continent – and all but one of their games will be played in India. They will know the tracks like the back of their hand and will look to get their bearings right for them. On two previous occasions when the World Cup was played in the Indian sub-continent, India had got to the semi-finals rather easily but were shocked in the last four round. This time, they will look to play to their potential and get at least one better.
Threat
Home advantage has slowly begun to recede in this day and age when the Indian Premier League and other such tournaments have allowed the foreign players to ply their ware in the country as well. Most of the other sides, like Australia, South Africa and West Indies have had good number of outings in the country and could not be too bothered about the conditions - unless of course the tracks produced are rank turners.
Previous Record
India has won the World Cup once - in 1983. However, apart from that, they have reached the final of one edition in 2003 and lost in the semi-finals of two of them. The two semi-final losses came in 1987 and 1996, and both were played in India. 1975, 1979, 1992 and 2007 saw the Indians being knocked out in the first round itself while they had got to the Super Six round in 1999 in England.
Expected Captain
MS Dhoni will lead the side for the Indians, much like how he has done for more than three years now. He has won India 50 out of the 88 games that they have played in, which is one of the better records amongst his contemporaries.
Players to look out for
This will be the last World Cup for the Indian maestro, Tendulkar and the world will watch him with bated breath. The bowling of Zaheer Khan will be one that the Indians will look to get some early wickets as well as reverse swing later in the game.