A preview of India's chances in the Super Eights

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and co., take on Australia today in their first Super Eight fixture of the ongoing T20 World Cup, at the R.Premadasa stadium in Colombo. In what is touted as the ‘Group of Death’, India will definitely have their task cut out in their quest to reach the semifinal stages, and the match against Australia will probably be their toughest.

India have faced Australia in 6 T20 games, with both sides winning 3 each.

It may be a battle between Indian spinners and the Aussie batsmen, with Ravichandra Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh(will renew his old rivalry with the Aussies once again!) expected to cause trouble, and with Zaheer Khan not in his best form, Ashwin may just be given the responsibility to open the attack.

Ashwin may open the bowling against the Aussies

After the Aussies, India face arch rivals Pakistan in their second fixture(September 30th), and have the enviable record of never having lost to the old enemy, in World cup clashes(which excludes the warm up tie before the start of the tournament).

Though the warm up tie between the two sides was a closely contested one (Pakistan won by 5 wickets), the September 30 tie for India against Pakistan is definitely the real deal, with both sides expected to go ‘hammer and tongs’ for a win.

India will go into the tie with memories of their win over Pakistan in the 2007 final, and though they may be favourites, Dhoni and co. cannot afford to take Mohammed Hafeez’s team lightly, especially the Pakistani batsmen, who dominated the Indian bowling in the warm-up tie). A nail biter is definitely on the cards.

India will take inspiration from their 2007 final victory in the tie against Pakistan

Next up is South Africa, against whom India have a 4-2 winning record in T20′s.

By the time India face South Africa(2nd October), atleast one of the four teams in the group may well have made their way into the semifinal stages, and this fixture may just pan out to be a knockout match, with the loser exiting the tournament.

Amla will be the man to watch out for against South Africa

South Africa will be formidable opponents, with the likes of AB De Villiers, ‘Speed Gun’ Dale Steyn, and the Morkel brothers(Albie and Morne), all capable of winning them a game single-handedly.

Plus, South Africa have their own version of ‘Mr.Cricket’, Hashim Amla, and the versatile Jacques Kallis, who Dhoni and co. will have to watch out for.

So, putting past records aside, a good showing and a win against the Aussies in today’s fixture may just help India put one foot in the semifinal stages, and hopefully repeat their memorable 2007 triumph!