By: Supriya Rajpal
The most beautiful thing you can wear on the field is confidence. It’s a belief that you can get the job done. From being in a position of almost getting knocked out of the tournament.
India are back in the thick of things after beating Bangladesh in a cliffhanger and looking confident before taking on Australia in the virtual quarterfinal match of the World T20 2016, in Mohali.
This is yet another deja vu moment for India and Australia. The previous World Cup at home, incidentally, also had Australia as India’s opposition in the quarterfinal game.
India won that match chasing and making this side the first staging nation to win a World Cup extravaganza. This 2011 quarterfinal win over Australia marked the beginning of celebrations at home.
After that win India beat Pakistan in the semifinals and then upstaged Sri Lanka in the final to stake a claim on the coveted trophy. Those were unforgettable days.
From the public to political figures, everyone joined forces to give the national cricket team a rousing welcome. From roads to parks, fans were everywhere at unearthly hours in a surreal display of buoyancy.
Five years later yet again India stand at the threshold of creating another history. It’s a must-win game to stay alive in the competition.
Fortunately India is playing the all-important match at a venue that inspires confidence in MS Dhoni and his men. Mohali is a ground where India have won several crucial games. They would be confident to be at their best against a team which is fresh after beating Pakistan on Friday.
Australia have plenty to play for, despite being the top ODI team in the world they have never won a World T20 tournament. As aggressive players they would be itching to prove their mettle. To add fuel to this fire Steve Smith and company must remember what India did to them in their backyard Down Under.
The Aussies were given a taste of their own medicine on a flat track by a powerful Indian batting and bowling department, earlier this year. The team, which was performing ominously during the ODI series against India, lost all zeal and zest in the three-match T20 series.
Indian Cricket Team would be still remembering that 3-0 whitewash, which they handed out to Australia then and feeling confident before the big match.
World T20 2016 News, live streaming information, live score on Drcricket7
