<p>After staying briefly on top of the ICC rankings and clinching the triangular series in Sri Lanka recently, Indians were humbled by 103 runs by a side that had lost to a local team in its previous match.<br /><br />Off the field, nobody has an answer if Gambhir, who missed yesterday's warm-up tie at Potchefstroom, has really recovered from his groin strain.<br /><br />It could well be a race against time for the left-hander as India take on Pakistan in their tournament opener in Centurion.<br />So would be the concern about the striking prowess of pace duo of Ishant Sharma and R P Singh, from whom the side would expect some timely breakthrough during the tournament.<br />Besides, choice of training the venue has also added to Indians' worry. They are putting up at Potchefstroom, where the conditions are more or less sub-continental, for three days. <br /><br />"It would have been better if were to train in Johannesburg or Centurion," star batsman Rahul Dravid has admitted already.<br />India would expecting some big knocks from Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid.<br />Tendulkar is averaging just over 31 against South Africa in one-dayers, from 52 games and has just three hundreds against the Proteas in their own backyard.<br />On the other hand, Dravid is averaging an impressive 44.74 in South Africa but is yet to hit a ton. However, his average against South Africa is an eye-popping 51-plus in the latter's den.<br />Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh's form will also be crucial to the side.<br />Raina looked good last night before being run-out and even got a nod from skipper Dhoni.<br />But Yuvraj, despite one of the most sumptuous of sixes against spinner Daniel Vettori, appeared at sea against speedy Shane Bond.<br />The quicker pitches at Centurion and Wanderers would certainly keep these two young guns pre-occupied.</p>
<p>After staying briefly on top of the ICC rankings and clinching the triangular series in Sri Lanka recently, Indians were humbled by 103 runs by a side that had lost to a local team in its previous match.<br /><br />Off the field, nobody has an answer if Gambhir, who missed yesterday's warm-up tie at Potchefstroom, has really recovered from his groin strain.<br /><br />It could well be a race against time for the left-hander as India take on Pakistan in their tournament opener in Centurion.<br />So would be the concern about the striking prowess of pace duo of Ishant Sharma and R P Singh, from whom the side would expect some timely breakthrough during the tournament.<br />Besides, choice of training the venue has also added to Indians' worry. They are putting up at Potchefstroom, where the conditions are more or less sub-continental, for three days. <br /><br />"It would have been better if were to train in Johannesburg or Centurion," star batsman Rahul Dravid has admitted already.<br />India would expecting some big knocks from Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid.<br />Tendulkar is averaging just over 31 against South Africa in one-dayers, from 52 games and has just three hundreds against the Proteas in their own backyard.<br />On the other hand, Dravid is averaging an impressive 44.74 in South Africa but is yet to hit a ton. However, his average against South Africa is an eye-popping 51-plus in the latter's den.<br />Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh's form will also be crucial to the side.<br />Raina looked good last night before being run-out and even got a nod from skipper Dhoni.<br />But Yuvraj, despite one of the most sumptuous of sixes against spinner Daniel Vettori, appeared at sea against speedy Shane Bond.<br />The quicker pitches at Centurion and Wanderers would certainly keep these two young guns pre-occupied.</p>
