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Why should you support them? India go into this World Cup with the rarity of having a more assured bowling pack than their batting unit. Their top-order consists of two of the best batsmen in the world right now, but there’s uncertainty in the middle-order that affects the equilibrium of this side. Bowling meanwhile, has two highly-potent wrist spinners – as opposed to most teams that carry just one – and a difference-maker in Jasprit Bumrah, who will deny teams at the death and trigger jaw drops in the process. Their IPL form notwithstanding, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami make for an able ally for Bumrah, while also giving India the option (and the lure) of fielding both in a three-man pace attack. So what’s their gameplan? Strike with the top-three, smother with spin A top-three of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli nearly makes up for India’s vulnerable middle-order that follows. But even with that, India aren’t quite the PowerPlay bashers that the hosts are. They prefer to build gradually towards a total in the range of 280-320. Hardik Pandya’s ever-improving six hitting skills might nudge that upper limit further if they…

KL Rahul gave two subtle odes to an old cricketing adage: Timing is everything. In their last 50-over game before the World Cup proper, India appeared to have finally identified their two-drop batsman, or at least forced to do so, by Rahul’s sublime 108. Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were out on the balcony at the Sophia Gardens stadium and cheered Rahul’s century as he, egged on by fellow-centurion MS Dhoni, soaked in the ovation with a gentle bat raise. The fervour in the dressing room for a warm-up game was understandable. The absence of a regular No.4 had left the team at sixes and sevens building up to the event, with Vijay Shankar, all of nine ODIs old, handed the proverbial right of first refusal by chief selector MSK Prasad during his World Cup squad announcement. “To begin with KL [Rahul] will be reserve opener, if need arises the team management will take a call,” Prasad had added post the selection meeting. As it turned out, the need to bring Rahul back to the middle-order was necessitated by a freak injury to Vijay on the eve of the first World Cup warm-up against New…

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey says Australia was fully prepared for the hostile reception they received in Saturday’s Cricket World Cup warm-up match against England and that former captain Steve Smith answered the ‘boo boys’ in the best possible way. Chants of “cheat” accompanied Smith as he came out to bat in Southampton but he smashed 116 from 102 balls to guide Australia to a 12-run win. Advertising With Smith and former vice-captain David Warner back in the side after serving 12-month bans for ball-tampering, Australia can expect similar treatment from crowds during the World Cup, which starts on Thursday with England facing South Africa at The Oval in London. “I think it’s a great atmosphere. It just adds to the game,” Carey said ahead of Australia’s final warmup against Sri Lanka later on Monday. “I think we knew it was going to happen. It’s one way to answer it, isn’t it? Make a hundred and Davey got 40 as well. “We knew that we were probably going to get that reception and the guys handled it really well.” The five-times champions face their first World Cup match against Afghanistan in Bristol on June 1. Smith, himself,…