Considering that the tournament Down Under will be played on faster wickets, it's obvious that spinners are unlikely to play a significant role. In these circumstances, having one spinner in the playing eleven is the most one can expect, says Bikash Mohapatra.
'It is very difficult to pick one team to win the World Cup but there is going to a whole lot of pressure on the teams in the knock-out stage'
'I made no demands neither did I try to force myself into WC squad'
Rajeshwari Gayakwad took a five-wicket haul to take India into the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World Cup with a 186-run win over New Zealand in Derby on Saturday.
- India are strong contenders to get into semi-final along with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - Rohit is a class player and if he gets going at the top of the order, then he also has the ability to single-handedly win matches for India
Bharat Arun is focussed on his next goal -- preparing the talented back-up pacers keeping an eye on the 2019 World Cup in England.
Several of India's former and current cricketers hailed batting sensation Harmanpreet Kaur after her magnificent century powered India into the final of the ICC Women's World Cup following a 36-run victory against Australia in the semi-finals, in Derby, on Thursday.
India will find confidence if they can manage to beat Pakistan.
A World Cup victory will put Kohli in a league of his own and even those sceptical about his tactical nous, will have no other option but to grudgingly doff their hats at his heady achievements.
'This WC will heavily rely on openers as they have to set the tone'
Undergoing a transition phase, defending champions Sri Lanka may not be in their elements in the build-up to the ICC World T20 but skipper Angelo Mathews today said it is good to carry the underdogs tag as it does not put the team under pressure. "The fact that we are coming as underdogs releases the pressure. Yes, we didn't do well in the Asia Cup but we're getting better day by day. I'm confident of my team's progress," Mathews said on the eve of their Super 10 opener against Afghanistan. Mathews said that his team needed just one win to get the momentum back. "We're not looking too far ahead at the moment and we will take one game at a time. We need one good game to get our momentum back," said the skipper. Afghanistan almost pulled off an upset during the 2015 World Cup in Australia when they threatened to chase down 237 before being bowled out for 232 in 49.4 overs and Mathews said Afghans were no more the minnows.
Mumbai Indians' consistency on the big day paid off again during a season where there were more than 30 last-over finishes.
Cricketers from across the world reacted with surprise and lavished praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the India captain on Tuesday decided to call it quits in the Test format.
Rediff.com brings you the best quotes of World Cup 2015. From players and coaches to legends and fans; let's hear them out!
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Tuesday said it is important for his team to look at it as just another game and not get burdened by any additional pressure against India in the ICC World Cup quarter-final.
Kapil Dev's running catch at the boundary, to dismiss Viv Richards, is widely remembered by fans and cricketers alike, but Martin Crowe's effort to pocket a lunging catch and dismiss Zimbawe's Dave Houghton in the 1987 Reliance World Cup will always be special, reckons Siva Sankar
Australian legend Glenn McGrath has said the Indian fast bowlers did a good job in the recent World Cup after a dismal show in the preceding tri-series.
Prem Panicker, on the Rediff chat, delves on what went wrong for Team India and what to expect from Sunday's trans-Tasman World Cup final.
Prem Panicker, a keen follower of the game and one of cricket's finest writers, analysed, debated and dissected the four semi-finalists on the Rediff World Cup Chat on Monday.
Prem Panicker, a keen follower of the game and one of cricket's finest writers, interacted with readers on the Rediff World Cup Chat.
