SYDNEY: After an extremely engrossing and nail-biting four-wicket victory over Pakistan on the last ball at a sell-out Melbourne Cricket Ground to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign, India will be aiming for their second victory on the trot when they face a resolute Netherlands in their second Super 12 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
With little time between matches happening in different time zones in Australia, India chose to rest on the eve of their match against the Netherlands after an optional session happened on Tuesday. In his pre-match press conference, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey explained how it was good for them to play Pakistan at the start of their T20 World Cup campaign.
"The discussion we have had is that every game in the tournament is important. Yes, in the first game, we knew the hype around it. It was always going to be high intensity in the big clash. But having the first game done and dusted is always good. Had this game been the third or fourth, (it) would sometimes have an effect on the following games.
"Having this game out was good. We knew that every game from here on in the World Cup is going to be important, every team that is in the tournament has worked its way up because they (Netherlands) have done something good and that's the reason they are out here. We take it like that and focus on not just the individuals, but the team itself on that given day, one day at a time."
From the match against Pakistan, talismanic batter Virat Kohli's epic knock of 82 not out was the biggest positive for India. It reiterated that Kohli still had it in him to win chases for India under immense pressure and register himself in cricketing folklore yet again.
Apart from him, Hardik Pandya's all-round show and left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh's scalps must have certainly pleased the Indian team think-tank with Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami doing a tidy job with the ball.
But one thing which India might look to rectify against Netherlands will be about captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul breaking free from their tentative self when facing high-pace deliveries. The Dutch pacers in Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren and Fred Klaassen will test the opening pair very well at Sydney.
For Netherlands, led by wicketkeeper-batter Scott Edwards, playing against India, one of the best T20I sides currently in the world, will be a challenge they will relish after entering the Super 12 stage. IANS
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