What a big relief for millions of the fans! Two former Indian captains are apparently flying high after India's impressive 76-run win over Pakistan in a red hot encounter at Adelaide on Sunday. Sunil Gavaskar feels that this vital victory achieved after a period of three months in Australia, will prove to be "rejuvenating" for mean in blue. Likewise, a much concerned Ravi Shastri had already "warned" that Australia can be tournament favourites. It's been quite a challenging away tour for India Down Under. Team India lost the four-match Test series against Australia by 2-0. Also, they were shunted out of the tri-nation series that preceded the World Cup. Although Team India did manage to register their first win in a warm-up match against Afghanistan last week but the stylish victory over Pakiatan was somewhat different and has once again established that no one can rule out Team India, despite their recent not so impressive show. Truly excited Gavaskar said, "This will against Pakistan could be really rejuvenating. If they beat South Africa on Sunday, India will go all the way. India played like world champions today and the win was impressive." He further added, "The way they batted, bowled and fielded, India looked like a world champion side. They looked 20 runs short but the bowlers kept the pressure on and Pakistan cracked." Ravi Shastri, the team director, has also opined that winning on Sunday was crucial because India don't play again till next Sunday. He said a loss against Pakistan would have been disastrous. "We can't be playing the waiting game. The win was very important to keep the morale up. The team is young and hence it's important to enjoy a victory, said Shastri. Imposing faith on the capabilities of Team India he said, "If there is one team that can take out Australia in this World Cup, it is this Indian team. We will get better". It is true that the two brilliant batting partnerships paved way for victory, with Virat Kohli being a common factor in either of them, but both Gavaskar and Shastri are seemingly relieved that Indian bowlers also built much needed "partnerships". Whenever one of the bowlers leaked, the one bowling from other end stopped the runs and took wickets. Appreciating the team's efforts Shastri said, "India played like a unit and that's the biggest takeaway today. But team India will have to undergo an acid-test against the Proteas next Sunday and only if they defeat South Africa, their supremacy will be established like great Mount-Everest. We are a great team after all Shastri added.
