23 March,2011 07:08 AM IST | | Rohan Koli
Kapil, Kumble feel Ponting's side won't be a stumbling block for India in the quarter-finals
Legends Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble yesterday said that Ricky Ponting's Australia were beatable but stressed that India needed to play total cricket to win the World Cup.
Kapil, who led India to victory in 1983, said that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side had the wherewithal to turn the tables on the defending champions whom they take on in the quarter-finals in Ahmedabad tomorrow.
"Australia are a very strong team and should not be taken lightly as they had won 34 World Cup matches in a row. But I have a feeling that if Pakistan can beat Australia, then why can't we," the 52-year-old former Indian captain said.
"Our team has the power to beat Australia. We should go out with a positive approach on the field," he added.
Kumble said that the current Australian side was not as invincible as the one that thrashed Sourav Ganguly's Indian team in the 2003 final.
"The 2011 Australian team is very different compared to the 2003 team that we faced in the final at Johannesburg. That team seemed unbeatable, whereas this team doesn't," Kumble, India's leading wicket-taker with 956 international scalps, said.
"This is a great opportunity for us to beat Australia and with the current form (of Team India), I am confident that we can beat them."
Kapil said India should not over-rely on its batting strength. "Our strength is batting, but to win a World Cup you can never rely on your batting only. You have to give your cent per cent in bowling and fielding as well," he said.
Kumble cautioned against under-estimating Australian captain Ricky Ponting's batting abilities.
"Ponting's poor form can act as a bonus for the Indians. But, having said that, we should not forget the knock (140 not out) he played in the 2003 final that took the game away from us. He has the ability to bounce back," the stalwart said. Further, the 40-year-old Bangalorean asked the Indian team not to worry too much about handling the powerplays. "A match cannot be decided in five overs. We have to play 50 overs of good cricket, not only while batting but also bowling as well," he said.
