India will take confidence from the fact that they blanked Australia Down Under in the three-match series in January
A scrappy India will have to lift their game by several notches against an improving Australia when the two fierce rivals clash in a virtual quarterfinal cricket match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Mohali on Sunday.
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India, who were the overwhelming favourites going into the tournament, have been far from convincing in the three games they have played so far. The inaugural edition champions began their campaign with a 47-run crushing defeat against New Zealand before bouncing back with a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan. But the home side would have found themselves in a precarious situation if it was not for a self destructive Bangladesh and a brilliant sprint run out from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the previous game which they won by a mere one run.
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Australia, on the other hand, have been improving with every game and a convincing win against Pakistan in a must-win match here yesterday have prepared them well for another knock-out battle. James Faulkner and Shane Watson think playing India in their own backyard is the ultimate challenge but the home team also knows they have a daunting task at hand on Sunday.
India, however, will take confidence from the fact that they blanked Australia in Australia in the three-match series in January even though they played against a different squad then. In any case, another close contest is expected between the two tough rivals at the I S Bindra Stadium which is expected to be fully packed.
India's star-studded batting have been below par starting with the performance of openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who are yet to fire in the competition. Star batsman Virat Kohli will be key to India's chances again but the others too need to rise to the occasion.
Suresh Raina scored a 30 against Bangladesh but he is facing the heat alongside Yuvraj Singh, who will have the added pressure of performing at his home ground. The bowlers have done a decent job especially the spin combine of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
#WT20 Men: #Ind pacer Jasprit Bumrah running in to bowl in the nets
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Saturday, 26 March 2016
India put in the hard yards in a routine two-hour practice session with left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh having an extended session ahead of their must-win match against Australia in the ICC World T20 at the I S Bindra Stadium.
#WT20 Men : It is Yuvraj Singh's turn in the nets and he hits one down the ground #Ind
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Saturday, 26 March 2016
Yuvraj, who was not amongst the runs against Bangladesh and New Zealand, took throw downs from assistant coach Sanjay Bangar for close to an hour. The other batsman who batted longer than others was Ajinkya Rahane, who is yet to get a game in the tournament.
Yuvraj came to bat at the nets after the turn of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Ravinchandran Ashwin. He batted alongside Rahane, Suresh Raina and skipper M S Dhoni, who mostly faced the slower bowlers and continued even after the trio was done.
Yuvraj mostly practiced the aerial strokes, both in front and behind the wicket. He last played an international match here in October 2-13 when he was out for a duck. Kohli too batted with determination for close to 45 minutes before heading to the ground for some catching practice. His performance will be crucial to India's chances, as it was the case against Pakistan.
Pressure will be on openers Rohit and Dhawan to give India a good start after having tough outings in the earlier games. Suresh Raina is another batsman who will be eager to perform after scores of 30, 0, 1. The bowlers who spent most time in the nets were Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh and injury prone Mohammad Shami.
After sweating it out, home heroes Yuvraj and Harbhajan readily posed for the handful of fans gathered at the nets. The players trained under the watchful eyes of selectors Vikram Rathore and MSK Prasad.
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