India aim to break WC home jinx

Feb 08, 2011 |

Tags:

World Cup

Mumbai: Having faltered twice at the doorstep of the title contest previously when they hosted the World Cup, India would be eager to break the jinx this time around and regain cricket's most coveted trophy when they commence their campaign in the mega-event against co-hosts Bangladesh at Dhaka on February 19.

In 1987, Kapil Dev failed to lead the country to their second successive crown as his team was swept off the perch by Mike Gatting-led England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mohd. Azharuddin also could not pilot his squad back on to the throne of One-day cricket nine years later when India co-hosted the World Cup along with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as his team was knocked out by eventual champions Lanka in the semi-final at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

This time around Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men are aiming to disprove India's jinx as host nation of the World Cup, aiming to make it third time lucky in the tournament that the country is co-hosting with Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Dhoni-led team has the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, who will be playing in his sixth World Cup that would place him at par with Pakistan great Javed Miandad, to look forward to - besides a very talented and balanced team - for ferrying back the World Cup to India after 28 years.

Seeded second in the tournament and ranked number one in Group 'B', India's passage into the knock-out stage appears reasonably smooth if they play to their potential and are careful to avoid some pitfalls.

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