Now Or Never For India

E-mail this Article

Print this Article

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dravid - needs a win.

Former champions India must win their final World Cup group match against Sri Lanka later today to keep their hopes alive in the current tournament.

Despite hitting the highest score in the 32-year history of the competition in their last innings - 413 for five against Bermuda - defeat is likely to signal India's exit after an opening-match defeat to Bangladesh in Trinidad.

The sub-continental sides are locked on two points apiece after two games in Group C, but with the Tigers overwhelming favourites to beat Bermuda on Sunday, India captain Rahul Dravid knows it is time to deliver or face elimination.

"It's a real challenge ahead of us," he said. "We had two must-win matches, but have won just one. The guys know what they have to do.

"What is in our control is to go and try to win the next game and win it as well as possible."

The Indians lost their first game to Bangladesh by five wickets but bounced back with a massive total against minnows Bermuda, with opener Virender Sehwag hitting 114 of just 87 balls.

And Dravid concedes that India played way below their best against Bangladesh.

"It was not our best performance and we all knew it but we are happy with the commitment shown and the manner in which we played in our next game," he added.

Of Sehwag's innings, he said: "He was under a lot of pressure and it is a testament to his character that he was able to do what he did.

"We hope he can continue this way for the rest of the tournament."

Dravid is aware of the need for victory by a handsome margin, with the net run-rate likely to come into play.

India are ahead of Bangladesh on run-rate at present but Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene insists his team will not be doing their opponents any favours.

"It is important for us to win this game because it means two extra points for us going into the Super Eights," he said.

"Victory would mean that Bangladesh could get in and we have already beaten them, so we will get their points.

"A win for India could change all of that and we certainly don't want that."

Jayawardene has been impressed with the quality of his side's cricket in their trouncings of Bermuda and Bangladesh.

"Our batsmen have all had good knocks and the bowlers were clinical in their performance against Bangladesh," he enthused.

"It was a really good team effort and we want to continue that. Winning is always a habit and we would want to go into the next stage on a victory trail."

Jayawardene claimed Sanath Jayasuriya, who hit 109 against the Tigers but was forced to retire during his innings because of cramp, was "fit and ready".

The Indian team had a two-hour session at the Queen's Park Oval on Thursday while Sri Lanka rested their top players from a light workout.