Virat Kohli says pacemen key to dismantling Australia line-up in World Cup semi-final
Wednesday 25 March 2015 08:36, UK
India's bowlers hold the key to helping Australian wickets tumble at the World Cup semi-final stage, according to vice-captain Virat Kohli.
India's bowlers were sent to the boundary repeatedly as the team lost the summer Test series against Australia 2-0 and they also failed to win a single match in the following Tri-series, which also featured England.
Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma have upped their game considerably at the World Cup, however, and have combined with the strong spin-bowling department to forge a potent attack.
With the help of a few run-outs, the Indian bowlers have successfully dismissed the opposition in all seven matches on their way to the semi-finals.
Kohli, a standout performer in what has been a sound Indian batting line-up, said the way the pacemen had responded to the team’s needs was key to India’s success.
"The way the bowlers have reacted and the way they have performed with the composure and the confidence and the aggression all together, it's been wonderful to watch," he told Cricket Australia's website.
"So we expect the bowlers to step up if you want to beat quality sides in the world and the way they have done this in this World Cup has been commendable.
"We've played the right kind of cricket and the difference now is how our bowling attack has come into play in this World Cup taking 70 wickets in seven games.
"That's probably been the difference, and if we continue to do that we have a great chance come game day."
India have not beaten Australia in any format since they arrived in late November but Kohli thinks the semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground is the perfect opportunity to break that cycle.
"There couldn't be a better time for us," he said.
"It's an opportunity for us to do justice to the way we've played so far in Australia, and we haven't had the results."
Watch India take on Australia from 3.30am on Thursday March 26 on Sky Sports 2HD
