India's big three will be targetted: Ponting
Bangalore,
Sep
27:
Australian
captain
Ricky
Ponting
today
said
that
India's
cricketing
big
guns
Rahul
Dravid,
Sachin
Tendulkar
and
Sourav
Ganguly
would
be
targetted
by
his
team
during
the
forthcoming
seven
one-day
internationals
in
India,
beginning
with
Saturday's
one-dayer
in
Bangalore.
Addressing a press conference here, Ponting said that the Kangaroos were well aware of the "strengths and weaknesses" of Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly, and as far the rest were concerned, they would be sorted out.
"One thing that stood out from all of us looking at the Indian team at Twenty20, amount of youthfullness they had in the team, giving a nice fresh air," he said.
“It's unfortunate that some of the younger guys who were in this team will be making way for senior guys (who are better players) to come back."
"I guess the thing for us is that we played against these guys a lot. Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar -- we should know their strengths and weaknesses very, very well. So, if anything, probably it will make it easier for us to prepare to play and with these guys in the team".
Ponting, said India would be under pressure.
"...If there is anything, pressure will probably come back on India," he said, adding, there would be lot of expectations from the Indian team after the Twenty20 triumph.
"There is no doubt that some of the players will be under pressure," he said.
Ponting, said Australia was going into Saturday's game with a positive mindset, adding, the tourists have "lots of plans for individual (Indian) players".
According to him, India's win in the Twenty20 world cup is "past" and both teams are now looking forward for the one-day series.
Momentum that India currently has can be a difficult thing to stop in the game of cricket but the coming series would start in an even-fight, he felt.
He said India deserved to win the Twenty20 World Cup, noting that it had beaten South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.
"They (India) played great cricket. They deserved to come back as champions. But that's finished now. We got to look forward to the series".
Ponting, who suffered hamstring injury in South Africa and was not expected to play the opening games in India, said he has not ruled himself out for the first game on Saturday.
(ANI)
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