Their confidence dented after a thrashing at the hands of New Zealand and a rag-tag local side in their last practice match, India need a crushing performance and not a mere victory against minnows Holland as they open their World Cup campaign here tomorrow. Once tipped as World Cup favourites but now reduced to anxious starters, ideally India should not face much problem against the minnows who have come here through the ICC qualifiers. But India have been served a warning against complacency by way of upset results in the opening games. In the tournament opener, South Africa were stunned by three runs by a resurgent West Indies at Newlands and next day Sri Lanka proved too good for Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand side. The class of ’83 to be in the stands MUMBAI: The Indian cricket team will have unexpected cheerleaders in former cricketers and members of the 1983 World Cup winning squad as it starts its campaign in South Africa here tomrrow. As a part of a promotional campaign, a private company is sponsoring the visit of five former cricketers to South Africa to cheer and motivate the Indian team. The five cricketers include stumper Syed Kirmani, Dilip Vengsarkar, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Kirti Azad. Kirmani would particularly cheer for batsman-cum-wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid, he told reporters during the ‘Heroes for Heroes’ campaign that was launched here. “We will be in South Africa to give the Indian team useful tips which we learnt during our World Cup campaign,” Kirmani said. “It is also a fine feeling that our efforts of winning the Cup are still recognised by people and I am truely excited at the prospect of going to the World Cup,” he said. (PTI) It is crucial for India to strike big tomorrow if they hope to do well against other heavyweights in their group . India will square up against Australia, England and Pakistan in subsequent league matches and in between there is a tie against Zimbabwe who looked in cracking form against Namibia on Monday, thumping their highest one-day score of 340 in Harare. Skipper Saurav Ganguly insisted the team will not take Holland lightly and wily off-spinner Harbhajan Singh echoed the sentiments of his other teammates saying, ‘‘we were casual in our practice match but since then we have sat down and discussed and decided that we will treat every game as the most difficult one of the tournament.’’ India’s biggest concern starts at the very top where captain Ganguly has made just 58 runs from his last seven one-day innings. India at Cup opener 1975 vs England India lost by 202 runs England 334 for 4 off 60 overs beat India 132 for 3 from 60 overs 1979 vs West Indies India lost by 9 wkts India 190 all out off 53.1 overs lost West Indies 194 for 1 off 51.3 overs 1983 vs West Indies India won by 34 runs India 262 for 8 off 60 overs lost West Indies 228 all out off 54.1 overs 1987 vs Australia India lost by 1 run Australia 270 for 6 off 50 overs beat India 269 all out off 49.5 overs 1992 vs England India lost by 9 runs England 236 for 9 off 50 overs beat India 227 all out off 49.2 overs 1996 vs Kenya India won by 7 wickets Kenya 199 for 6 off 50 overs lost to India 203 for 3 off 41.5 overs 1999 vs South Africa India lost by 4 wkts India 253 for 5 off 50 overs lost to South Africa 254 for 6 off 47.2 overs Sachin Tendulkar, with just two runs in his last three games after missing 11 matches against West Indies and New Zealand due to injuries, and Rahul Dravid with 116 runs from last seven games, only add to India’s growing batting concern. To compound miseries for India, young guns Dinesh Mongia and Mohammad Kaif also have little going their way in the ast few months, scoring 14 and 55 runs in their three and seven matches. But all of them would like to set aside their recent disappointments and draw positives from the greater part of 2002 when they gelled well as a team and pulled off memorable victories. India will also be anxious to know the form of their fastest bowler Zaheer Khan who has not bowled in the two practice games and has hardly been seen in the nets. The pitch at Boland Park here was being watered yesterday to keep it from breaking up but has usually produced high scores as attested by former India player Vinod Kambli who plays for Boland in the domestic competition. India also carry happy memories from this venue as Tendulkar and Ganguly put on a world record 258 runs for the opening wicket against Kenya here during the Standard Bank triseries of 2001. India have little idea about Holland except stray soundbites or video clips related to their match against England at Baroda during the 1996 World Cup. One of the links from the 1996 World Cup is Holland’s fast-bowling captain Roland Lefebvre who spent six years between 1990 and 1995 with Somerset and then Glamorgan. At 40, he is a year older than England’s Alec Stewart and brings plenty of experience to greenhorns Dutch side. Other than Lefebvre, Bas Zuiderent, who plays for Sussex, is the only member of the Dutch squad to have played county cricket. Zuiderent carved his own niche during the 1996 tournament when as a 16-year-old prodigy he struck 54 against England to become the second youngest cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to score a World Cup 50. (PTI) PITCH BATTLES Ganguly vs Lefebvre • His own batting form will be under the microscope when he faces his counterpart who will most likely open the bowling for his side. This apart, Saurav’s captaincy against Holland will set the tone for the rest of the matches to come. • At 40, this fast-bowling captain — he spent six years with Somerset and Glamorgan — knows how the game is played at the highest level. A steady opening spell from him and a couple of early wickets can turn the game on its head. Sachin vs Adeel Raja • A big man for the big occasion. Still searching for his form, the match against Holland should be the ideal platform for this master blaster to get back his touch ahead of the bigger games. • Said to be a sensation and a very handy player. He can turn the ball big with some accuracy. But the lack of experience on a big stage could be his Achille’s heal. Zaheer vs Zuiderent • The best Indian bet and genuinely quick, this left-arm paceman hasn’t played any warm-up game since arriving in South Africa. But if India were to taste success in the World Cup, he will be the man Saurav will be looking up to provide the early breakthroughs. • An explosive batter knows how important to put runs on the board. His experience at county cricket — he played for Sussex — should stand him in good stead. Incidentally, in the 1996 Cup event, he carved his own niche as a 16-year-old prodigy with a fine 54 against England — the second youngst to achieve the feat after Sachin Tendulkar.
