World T20: Wary India gear up for tough English test

India's listless bowling attack will aim to put up an improved performance ahead of the Super Eight stage when the team takes on England in its final group league encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 here tomorrow.

Both India and England are through to the 'Super Eight' but the contrasting manner of their respective victories certainly makes Stuart Broad and Co favourites ahead of a clash that has gained marquee status over the years.

While the Indian team management will be looking to plug the loopholes that appeared in the match against Afghanistan, England, after a facile 116-run win, will look to repeat that performance against a much better team.

The cause of concern for India across all formats has been their bowlers and it is no different in Twenty20.

33-year-old Zaheer Khan, who has manfully shouldered the burden as the leader of the attack, seems to have reached the fag end of his career and is increasingly looking pedestrian.

It is Zaheer's poor show that has led to the entire Indian attack looking ordinary.

Add to it, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's penchant for playing only four specialist bowlers always leaves the team in a high risk zone where it is expected that the part-timers need to perform above expectations.

The Mumbai-pacer has looked totally out of sorts in the net sessions so far.

Although it is too early to predict whether Zaheer will be benched considering that both Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji have bowled better than him, but it can be said that he is playing the shortest format on borrowed time.

The 22-yard strip at the R Premadasa Stadium has been of great help for the pace bowlers but the 'Men in Blue' are more reliant on their spinners.