ICC World Cup 2015: Win Against Pakistan Will Rejuvenate India, Says Sunil Gavaskar
India maintained their winning streak against Pakistan in World Cups by beating their arch-rivals by 76 runs in Adelaide on Sunday.
Nothing succeeds like success and two former Indian captains are over the moon after India's emphatic 76-run ICC World Cup 2015 win against Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday. Sunil Gavaskar feels the victory, India's first meaningful one in almost three months in Australia, will be "rejuvenating" and Ravi Shastri is already "warning" tournament favourites Australia.(India Win by 76 Runs)
It's been a long tour for India Down Under. They lost the four-match Test series against Australia 2-0 and was knocked out of the tri-nation series that preceded the World Cup. Team India's first win came in a warm-up match against Afghanistan last week but the style of Sunday's win has really impressed the two Maratha warriors.(300 Was Gettable: Misbah)
"This will against Pakistan could be really rejuvenating. If they beat South Africa on Sunday, India will go all the way," said an excited Gavaskar. "India played like world champions today and the win was impressive," the former opener added.(Hate Losing, Says Kohli)
Shastri, currently the team director, said winning on Sunday was crucial because India don't play again till next Sunday. "It (a loss) would have killed us. We can't be playing the waiting game. The win was very important to keep the morale up. The team is young and hence it's important to enjoy a victory," Shastri said.
The former all-rounder, who joined Team India after the Test debacle in England last summer, is confident that India will be the team to beat in this tournament, even warning Australia not to write off India.
"If there is one team that can take out Australia in this World Cup, it is this Indian team. We will get better," boomed Shastri, the effect of a comprehensive win really lifting his spirits.
Gavaskar explained the reason for this 'boost'. It's India's performance in Adelaide on Sunday. "The way they batted, bowled and fielded, India looked like a world champion side. They looked 20 runs short but the bowlers kept the pressure on and Pakistan cracked," Gavaskar said.
India rode two brilliant partnerships with Virat Kohli a common factor in either of them. But both Gavaskar and Shastri are impressed that the bowlers also built "partnerships". While one leaked, the other stopped the runs and took wickets. "India played like a unit and that's the biggest takeaway today," Shastri said.
India will hope for a similar showing against the Proteas next Sunday. It will be a test of skills and caliber against one of the best ODI teams in the world.