The Manpreet Singh-led young Indian team, with an average age of just 23, is ready to go flat out in their attempt to create World Cup history at home, as the quadrennial competition begins today at the Kalinga Stadium here against South Africa. India's best finish at home in a World Cup has been fifth (Mumbai, 1982), followed by eighth place in 2010 at New Delhi.

Going by rankings, No. 5 India are a lot superior to No. 15 South Africa, but the on-field results at crucial competitions tell a different story. The last time India played SA in a World Cup, the match ended 3-3, at the 2010 New Delhi edition. Two years later, at the all-important Olympics in London, India were forced to settle for an embarrassing wooden spoon [12th and last place] after going down to them 2-3. India did beat SA 5-2 at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, but this Timothy Drummond-led side are no pushovers, and it will take a good physical show by the Indians to win today.