Daijiworld Media Network

Sydney, Mar 26: Hello and welcome to the second semi-final of World Cup 2015. The clash between reigning champions India and the mighty Australia promises to be electrifying.

Australia have won the toss and have opted to bat

Dhoni: 'I think the way we have transformed from the tri-series, getting into the World Cup was very important for us. All of us are looking good. That's something that is very important. Everybody has got a chance to bat, bowl, fielding has been good, overall preparation looks good. Not really. I feel it wouldn't really change much. The toss is something beyond the control, you have to accept it. But, yes we would have also batted first as well. Everyone is fit. So, that give us a liberty of playing with the same squad. I think each and every one in a game like this you have to be at your best irrespective of whether you are opening the innings or batting in the middle order. So, get off to a good start, if you get a good start make sure you score big, that is something we always emphasize on. The partnership is more important than individual performance. So, that has been the key for us throughout this World Cup.'

Clarke: 'Not too much (on what has he said to his mates before the game). It's about enjoying. It's a big occasion, it's a special day. We know we are up against a fantastic team, but we love playing here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The boys are ready to go, they have trained really well. That's all I can ask for. We are going to have a bat Flem (Damien Fleming), thank you. I think we are about to find out. The wicket looks great. I think it will be pretty good for both innings, runs on the board is the reason why we have gone for batting first. Same XI for us today. I thought he (Hazlewood) was exceptional. I think he grabbed his opportunity with both hands, the selectors believe this is the right XI for these conditions. I am confident if we play our best cricket, we can have success today.'

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke(c), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin(w), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Pitch Report by Shane Warne: This was the one used between Australia and Sri Lanka. It is a belter of a pitch. It doesn't spin as much as you think. It is rock hard. It should be a ripping match. I am looking forward to Maxwell vs Ashwin

Our man G Rajaraman is at the ground and reckons that Australia might not play Xavier Doherty. He's not amongst the group of bowlers warming-up for Australia. Hazlewood will keep his place as well, ahead of Pat Cummins.

'He (Dhoni) is unbelievable. There's no comparison. He just sits alone when it comes to ODI cricket. Character, a steely character, there is a desire to win, the desire to play as a unit (asked what impressed him the most in this team). The desire to play for each other, which has been absolutely brilliant to see. That's what you need in any team (the mix of youth and age). You need that because, if you see the way they have fielded, it's because of that.
There's youth there, there are some young legs there and of course you need experience on an occasion like this. Fabulous (to be here today). I feel like putting on my blues and getting out there. 30 years to the day, which the boys know, India beat NZ in the world championship of cricket in the semi-final and I was the Man of the Match, so I said if you get me one Man of the Match today, history might just repeat itself. Pleasure, go India!'

'You can (overplay a big occasion). If you think too much or too far ahead, you could make mistakes. Our mantra has been don't think too far ahead. Forget the past and live in the present and be calm in the present. Massive (when asked if Dhoni's presence is an advantage). If there is a bigger word than massive, use that word. Your vocabulary is better than mine, so go right ahead and use that word, because that's how big a player he is. It's not about individuals, it's about a collective team effort and that's what team India has brought to the table in this World Cup. It's not about individual performances, but every time when someone is needed, he's put up his hand, each one of those 11 players.'

'I've not seen the pitch but I think MS (Dhoni) has his plans. If you win the toss, obviously you would want to bat first. Why should you change it (the team) when nothing has happened? They've done brilliantly, each one of them in the 11 and they'll go out and enjoy the occasion today. I think the calmness will be the key today. you got to be calm there, soak in the pressure and then enjoy. Just think that you've got a stage there, you've been watched by 60000 people, so go out there and give it your best shot, enjoy it. They (the players) are very calm, very composed and looking forward to this game and it's a great occasion, a world cup semifinal and on the back of being the holders, the way they have played, I think everyone in India should be proud and all the Indian fans watching around the world, you should be proud of this cricket team the way they have played.'

Shastri: 'Absolutely fine (when asked how are the soldiers). They are ready and up for it like never before, let me assure you that. They want to go out there and play fearless, aggressive cricket and enjoy the occasion. They don't need any motivation, they've played fabulous cricket in this World Cup. They know each one of them can hold their heads high with the way they have played and as a unit they have looked fabulous. Today is game 8 and they have to approach it just in that fashion that they've approached the other ones. Doesn't matter (when told that game 8 is against Australia). Not at all (when reminded that there have to be scars from what's gone before). That's all baggage. This is the big one, those mickey mouse tournaments are over. This is where you want to win. Absolutely not (when asked if Australia have the wood over India). We are the defending champions, we are the favourites, pressure on Australia.'

A while ago, Mark Nicholas spoke to Ravi Shastri and here is the interview transcribed word-to-word. Expectedly, Shastri was gung-ho about India's chances. Lots of bravado and some stirring statements. The interview though is a gem. Imagine Ravi inside the dressing room, talking to the players. Some motivator he is!

Rohit Sharma on how batting up the order has helped him - 'Over the years I've learnt a lot of things. Certainly batting up the order has changed my game, my approach towards the game and the responsibility.'

Quotes: Michael Clarke is precise with his assessment - 'We have to execute our skills as well as we possibly can and if we do that, I have confidence that we can beat any team.'

Weather update: The forecast for this game is fine. The weather conditions were a bit overcast and rainy over the last couple of days but on match day there is no rain predicted.

Pre-match team news, Australia: Australia are most likely to go in unchanged from their quarter-final game.

Head-to-head record: India and Australia have clashed 10 times in World Cups with Australia winning 7 of them. But India won their last encounter - a World Cup quarter-final at Motera in Ahmedabad. That was a gripping game which India won thanks to Yuvraj and Raina's calmness under pressure in a chase. If you look at the overall record, in the last five meetings between the sides, India has won two, Australia one with two games washed out. Australia though have a 12-1 record against India at the SCG and also are yet to lose a World Cup semi-final, winning 6 of them.

'Maxwell is the leading run-scorer for Australia in this edition with 301 runs at an average of 75. His audacious batting will be a major concern for India but Ashwin, with 12 wickets, is also in good form. India will be aware of the damage Maxwell can cause in Sydney, where he smashed a 51-ball hundred against Sri Lanka. Ashwin's aim will be simple. Get rid of the Big Show and become the showstopper.'

'The stats concur with Maxwell's assessment. In seven ODIs that Ashwin has played against Maxwell, he has dismissed him in only one match and that was two years ago in Nagpur but it was after the batsman had smashed two consecutive fours off him of the previous two balls.'