Delhi, March 9: The 25th ODI of the 2011 ICC World Cup gets underway between Indian and Netherlands at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi today.India are at the top of the standings in Group B having won their last game against Ireland on March 6, while Netherlands are languishing at the bottom of the same Group.
The weather in Delhi is warm with a gentle breeze with the current temperature about 26 degrees centigrade. Speaking on the wicket Sunil Gavaskar opined, “This is as flat as you can expect. This is a batsman’s pitch. Both teams have not ventured anywhere near the pitch, because they know whether you bat first, bat second, third or fourth, it is a batting wicket.”
Netherlands captain Peter Borren won the toss and opt to bat first. India have made one change to their squad brining in Ashish Nehra for Munaf Patel.
Captain speak:
Peter Borren (Netherlands):
On the decision to bat first: “Yeah, we’re going to do what we did in the first game of the tournament. Put up a target and look to put pressure on the Indians.”
On how they will defend the target against India: “We’ve got to show our own discipline. We’ve got to put runs up on the board and then through some discipline put pressure on them.”
MS Dhoni (India):
On losing the toss: “We would have loved to bat first. If you look at the nature of the track, it will get slower and lower as the game goes on. But this will give us good experience to chase scores.”
On the decision to play R Ashwin instead of Piyush Chawla: “Compared to Ashwin, Chawla needs more practice so we decided to play him today. Ashwin is mentally stronger, and it doesn't matter against whom he comes in, he will do well.”
Playing XIs:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Piyush Chawla and Ashish Nehra
Netherlands: Eric Szwarczynski, Wesley Barresi (wk), Tom Cooper, Ryan ten Doeschate, Alexei Kervezee, Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Grooth, Peter Borren (c), Bradley Kruger, Mudassar Bukhari and Pieter Seelaar
