Exactly eight years to the day Australia humiliated India in the World Cup final, the sides were at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera today, preparing for round 2. There are only two survivors from that March 23, 2003, game in the current Australian side — captain Ricky Ponting and fast bowler Brett Lee. In contrast, six of India’s starting XI in this Cup campaign were in that 125-run defeat at the Wanderers.
Never one to miss the chance to make a point, Ponting said he would be watching that 2003 video a few times before tomorrow’s quarterfinal. A lot has changed since that game — both sides have seen an influx of youth, Australia has slid, and India has risen. And yet, say members of the Indian team management, the fear of losing to the Australians on cricket’s biggest stage lurks in the background like a dark shadow.
“One can’t dismiss the fear of losing, we have to just accept it,” said Paddy Upton, India’s mental conditioning coach, wearing a poker face.
