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India will have to overcome huge odds to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the World Cup but a defiant Team India captain Rahul Dravid insists his side can still make things happen.
Stunned by Bangladesh in the first match, India pummeled Bermuda in their second Group B match on Monday to stay in the hunt for a place in the Super 8 and they face Sri Lanka in a do-or-die match on March 23.
"There are some things we can control and some that we can't. We'll try to do our best to do things that are controllable. We'll try to play to our potential and if we can do that, we can still make things happen", Dravid said after his side's 257-run win against Bermuda.
"Now we have this big match against Sri Lanka. Hopefully we can take some confidence from this match to that game", he added.
Dravid was visibly happy with the show of the frontline batsmen against Bermuda and said, "We needed a big performance after our last match's performance and the boys did well -- they laid a good foundation and then some good hitting towards the end."
Against Bermuda, India rewrote history by putting on 413 runs for the loss of five wickets -- the highest score in World Cup's history.
Asked about the pitch, the Indian skipper said, "You need time to settle in such tracks and get used to. It was bouncy and did quite carry."
Despite the heavy loss, Bermuda captain Irving Romaine, however, was not really upset about it.
"I think we fielded exceptionally well but India played very, very well today. What we learnt from the match is that the bowlers need to be consistent with the line and length. We sprayed at times today.
"Anyway, someone (David Hemp) got 76 and we got past 150. I think it was a good day for cricket and we had fun", he said.
Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh, who played a scintillating 46-ball knock of 83, said once Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out, he decided to play his shots.
"I had to go there and take a few balls to settle. Besides, the pitch was a bit slow as well. I got my eyes in and in fact wanted to bat till the 50th over.
"But once Dhoni got out, I started playing as many strokes I could," he said.
Pointed out that he played quite a few shots in the mid-wicket area, Yuvraj said, "I felt confident after playing my first shot in the mid-wicket area and I got a few balls to hit through that area."
Happy that the knee injury was a thing of the past, Yuvraj said, "I'm happy that I'm batting well and I'm looking forward to the next match." The Cup: Complete Coverage© Copyright 2007 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent. |
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