India must beat Australia in Sunday’s one-day international in Sydney to retain any hope of reaching the tri-series finals, and they must do it while denying claims of changing room unrest. The World Cup champions are four points adrift of second-placed Australia ahead of two crucial ODIs in three days. It is likely they will have to win both if they are to play in next month’s best-of-three finals. India have slipped behind after back-to-back losses to Sri Lanka and Australia following their tie with Sri Lanka in Adelaide on February 14.
If India lose on Sunday they will fall at least eight points behind Australia and will need a bonus-point (five points) win over Sri Lanka in their last match next Tuesday to Hobart to have any chance of reaching the March 4-8 final series. India’s big showdown comes after Indian media reported differences between captain M.S. Dhoni and two senior batsmen, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, and the continuing slump in form of Sachin Tendulkar. Dhoni, who was suspended from India’s 51-run loss to Sri Lanka in Brisbane last Tuesday denied Saturday there was any rift within the team over the rotation policy of the opening batting positions. “Will play like a unit against Australia,” said Dhoni, adding that the team was looking forward to building momentum after their recent losses. All-rounder Irfan Pathan also downplayed talk of differences in the team. “Everyone is working hard. There is no difference of opinion in the team,” he told reporters on Saturday. “I have been hearing things, but it’s nothing like that. Things are pretty good. “It’s a matter of winning big games. Once we start winning the big games, these things are going to vanish,” he said. There is concern over the form of Tendulkar, the greatest run-scorer in ODIs and struggling in his pursuit of his elusive 100th international century during the tour of Australia.
