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 here tomorrow.
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“Look, I have played in games where a lot was dependent on run rate and sometimes we missed out because of it. So it is good that it has come down to winning the match with a simple equation”.
The Australians will take heart from the fact that they have been put up in Mohali for the last few days, as they had to play against Pakistan – a few days more than Indian team, which reached there after edging past a spirited Bangladesh by a solitary run in Bangalore.
About the match against India on Sunday, Faulkner said, “We got a massive game coming up against India, whoever wins that goes through”.
“From my personal perspective, to have the opportunity to play in what is hopefully not but what could be my last game … this is, I suppose, as big a dream as you could imagine, playing India at home”. India had kick-started their preparations for the World T20 by sweeping Australia 3-0 in a series Down Under, before beating Sri Lanka and lifting the Asia Cup, all while losing just one match.
“If you can beat India on Indian soil in any format, it’s an incredible achievement”.
Shane Watson indulged in the mind games ahead of Australia’s Twenty20 showdown with India by stating that the pressure will be on the hosts to hold their nerve and qualify for the semi-finals on Sunday.
Before Sunday’s super clash between India and Australia, New Zealand batsman, Ross Taylor on Saturday said the India versus Australia is going to be the game of the tournamnet.
Claiming he is no longer the antagonist from first slip, the soon-to-retire all-rounder – this will be his last game for Australia if they are beaten – said he would counsel less-experienced teammates on how best to handle the occasion.
“Yeah he (Rahane) can replace Virat Kohli” – Shane Watson jests when asked if he would pick Rahane in the Indian eleven. Needing to defeat Bangladesh on Wednesday to maintain a realistic chance of progress, India stood right on the precipice of disaster in front of their expectant public.
The pitch in Mohali does not offer a lot of turn, but India’s spinners are still likely to be crucial in stemming Australia’s attack.
“One thing about India is they are such a unsafe side. He has finished many big games which builds a self assurance and self confidence over a period of time”, he said. And everyone within the Australian team knows that. Back at the inaugural edition, they lost to India in the semi-finals, and two years back, they lost in the league stage too. Both teams want to win such a big tournament. “Because, once he gets in, he certainly knows how to put pressure on bowlers”.
“My former self, compared to now, I was normally in the thick of things as well”.
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“If we can have a person who can play the least number of dot balls and still keep the scoreboard ticking while the others are having a go at a few bowler, it always helps as a batting unit”. MS got good suggestions from him and it was an important moment for us.
