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.
Delhi's air still toxic: Air quality in 'very poor category with AQI 355, no relief expected in next 24 hours
The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor category for the seventh consecutive day. According to the report of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research
Rapper Shubh: When the concert was cancelled, Canadian rapper Shubneet Singh changed his tune, and said - India is my country too
Tension between India and Canada is at its peak. Meanwhile, insulting India has cost the Canadian-born Punjabi singer a lot. This Canadian singer is being protested across the country. Punjabi singer
Pakistani boat found in Sutlej: Suspicious boat found in Sutlej, just 50 km from where Modi's convoy was trapped; investigative agencies alert
The Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered a Pakistani boat from the Sutlej river in Firozpur. The boat was empty at the time of recovery. Security agencies have started an investigation. It is
AAP withholding municipal funds: BJP complains to LG
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said the AAP government was "withholding" funds of the three municipal corporations of Delhi governed by the BJP, and lodged a
'Governor has no veto power, keeping bills pending is illegal', SC's important comment on Tamil Nadu Government vs Governor case
The Supreme Court on Tuesday made an important comment on the dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor. The court said that the withholding of 10 bills for the President's
AAP's success strong reply to divisive politics: Jamaat
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Muslim body Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Thursday congratulated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on its "historic victory" in Delhi assembly elections and said the poll results have proved
Centre offers CBI probe into Karnataka IAS officer's death
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The central government is ready for a CBI inquiry into the death of Karnataka IAS officer D.K. Ravi if the state government wants, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on
Financial Planning: How should be your financial planning in the new financial year, know the expert opinion
The current financial year is about to end and now from April 1, we will step into the new financial year. In such a situation, every person must do financial planning in a new way and set new
Swine flu toll 965 so far: Nadda
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) There was no shortage of drugs to treat swine flu which has claimed 965 lives so far across the country this year, union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said Friday.A total of
Saudi Arabia now prohibits whipping as punishment, instead of being fined or imprisoned
Riyadh. The punishment for whipping is now banned in Saudi Arabia. The Supreme Court had commented on the method of punishment. Now the punishment for whipping has been changed to jail or fine.
