Adelaide, Feb 15 (IANS) Cricketers - past and present - Sunday lauded India for their superlative performance against Pakistan, saying they were the better side at the Adelaide Oval and thoroughly deserved to win their crunch pool stage opener of the World Cup.
Defending champions India started their title defence with a bang, notching up a 76-run win against their fierce rivals.
It was the opening match for both the teams and India's latest win extended their dominance over Pakistan to six matches in the World Cup. The two teams have played on six occasions in the tournament with India winning all the encounters.
Former batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar was one of the first to congratulate the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team after victory.
"What a convincing victory by Team India. Way to go," he wrote on social networking site Twitter.
His former teamate V.V.S. Laxman was equally effusive in his praise for the Indian team.
"Congrats Team India. Clinical performance. Good to see the way the bowlers bowled today. Lots of positives #INDvPAK #CWC2015," he tweeted.
The discarded trio of Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan, who played stellar roles in India's quest towards winning the World Cup in 2011 but ignored for the 2015 squad after a prolonged form drought, praised the team for rising to the big occasion.
They said the win would boost the morale of the team which was criticised for its poor form in the build-up to the mega event.
"Well done boys. Gr8 win 2dy against Pakistan! Keep it up guys. well played @imVkohli @ImRaina and shikar super bowling #shami#keep the flag high," Harbhajan said on Twitter.
"Well done boys ! @imVkohli bigger the occasion bigger the performance ! Happy for Jatt ji @SDhawan25," Yuvraj Singh tweeted.
"WELL DONE #TeamIndia !! Kick starting World Cup campaign with a huge win and maintaining winning record against Pakistan in World Cup," Zaheer Khan said.
Several former cricketers also expressed their delight in India's victory.
West Indies pace legend Michael Holding said the win was a result of India's improved bowling performance, particularly the pacers, who collectively took seven of the ten PakistanI wickets.
Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack, picking up four wickets for 35 runs. Fellow pacers Umesh Yadav (2/50) and Mohit Sharma (2/35) complemented him well.
"One of the reason's India did well was because Indian seamers bowled a lot better than what people expected, Mohammad Shami was outstanding today," Holding was quoted as saying by a television channel.
Ex-India opener, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, member of the 1983-Cup winning squad, said the win ensured that Indian batsmen returned to form after a lean spell which augurs well for the team's ambitions of defending its crown.
"India played really well. Three players have come back to form which is great. They planned it well today and executed it perfectly," he said to a TV channel.
Maharashtra CM Face: Who will be the CM face of Maharashtra? Different claims among the constituent parties of Mahayuti and MVA
The question remains as to who will be the CM face in Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, both alliances are claiming that their government will be formed. The results of the
Now Taliban is using Islam for its agenda, this order given to Imams
After taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban has now started using Islam for its purpose. The Taliban have asked the country's imams to tell people during Friday prayers how to follow the government's
Republic Day 2023: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be the chief guest on Republic Day
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will be the chief guest on Republic Day this time. The President of Egypt has been invited to celebrate this momentous occasion of 75 years of diplomatic
Corporate espionage case: CBI raids two places
New Delhi, March 13 (IANS) A day after the arrest of three people, including two government officials, in the leakage of confidential documents related to foreign investments in the finance and
Jayeshbhai Jordaar Box Office Collection: 'Jayeshbhai Jordaar' beaten with 'KGF 2', turned out to be strong on the third day, earned only this much money
Jayeshbhai Jordaar Box Office Collection day 3 Ranveer Singh's Jayeshbhai Jordaar is in bad shape at the box office. The film could not even do business of 12 crores in three days. There was some jump
Patients crossed 72 million; In 24 hours 63 thousand infected grew, 73 thousand people recovered; Highest death of comorbid infected so far
The number of corona patients in the country has crossed 72 lakh. More than 9 crore people have been screened. Of these, 72 lakh 37 thousand 82 people have been found infected. In the last 24 hours,
Another case found in Rewari
Rewari, 13 May
Politics of Halal vs Malhar in Maharashtra: Now only the Khatik community will sell Jhatka meat, Malhar certification website launched
Politics of Halal and Jhatka meat has now started in Maharashtra. State Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane has released a website to start Malhar certification for Jhatka meat, in which this meat will be
'Home Minister should take back his words', Mayawati said on Amit Shah's statement on Bhimrao Ambedkar.
The heat of politics of opposition parties, which started after Home Minister Amit Shah's statement about Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar in Parliament, has increased. On Thursday, BSP chief Mayawati not
High alert issued in states bordering Nepal, soldiers searching people at the border
The situation in Nepal is going from bad to worse. Meanwhile, the Nepal Army has imposed curfew, but the uproar is not stopping. Nepal's violence is also posing a threat to India's borders.
