World Cup Champions ​INDIA 2011

ICC Worldcup 2011 Final Photos :
India vs Srilanka:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh celebrate after beating Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2011 final match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets.

T Dilshan celebrates with teammates after dismissing Virat Kohli during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

MS Dhoni hits a drive off the back foot during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh celebrate after their team won the World Cup final match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai April 2, 2011.

Mahela Jayawardene celebrates after reaching his century during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Zaheer Khan celebrates the wicket of Upul Tharanga during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Harbhajan Singh celebrates after taking the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Kumar Sangakkara looks down as MS Dhoni jumps into the air after taking a catch to dismiss him during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Sachin Tendulkar prepares to bowl during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

MS Dhoni asks for a review by the third umpire for the wicket of Nuwan Kulasekara during the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

Credible Upholstery

How good are India’s opponents in World Cup 2011 Cricket?

No matter how tough or weak a team is on paper, a lot of its fortunes depend on how strong or weak its opponents are. India are now in that kind of a position going into the 2011 World Cup Cricket.

No doubt Gary Kirsten’s men in blue start as favourites on paper to win the popular title but will the opponents stand in India’s way? Not badly enough as this time’s opposition is among the weakest for any defending champion since 1992.

Given the two key parameters of design and quality of opposition, it would be fairly safe to say India's World Cup challenge begins at the quarterfinal stage.

This will effectively means India would need to win three matches in a row to become the World Champions. That is where the big challenge will be for Kirsten's boys.

It is a fairly easy group for India, who should comfortably travel through to the last eight. After all, you only need to finish as the fourth best performer in your group to flow through. 

But, within the group battle, India should look to stop on top of the group as that would put them in a good position to face a weakfish opponent in the battle for semi finals. 

For that to occur, India will have to be on song from the word go. So, let us look at how India's probability could be impacted by their opponents in World cup 2011.

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Kirsten may join Mumbai Indians after India stint

Johannesburg, Jan 26 (PTI): India coach Gary Kirsten is not in the running for a similar job in the South African side but could be involved with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, a report said on Wednesday.

According to the report, Kirsten's good rapport with Sachin Tendulkar could lead to the former South African opener being appointed in a top position in Mumbai Indians which is to appoint a director of coaching before the IPL IV.

"Indian cricket had hoped to persuade Kirsten to change his mind about not renewing his contract, but gave up on it this week. Future options for Kirsten could involve the Indian Premier League," a report in The Times said.

"The close relationship that Kirsten has with Sachin Tendulkar may lead to co-operation between the two at the Mumbai Indians, who are expected to appoint a director of coaching before the next IPL season," it said.

"Kirsten could easily take up such a position while still developing his international academy that is in the planning stage at Claremont Cricket Club in Cape Town," it added.

Kirsten, who will quit as India's coach after the World Cup ends in April, is reluctant to take up the Proteas job when caretaker Corrie van Zyl steps down, also in April.

The report also said current India bowling coach Eric Simons could not be ruled out as a possible candidate to replace Kirsten.

"The Indian cricket board has not yet started a process to recruit a successor to Kirsten, but it is not unlikely that it will approach Simons as a candidate. Simons, a former Proteas all-rounder and national coach, was highly regarded by the Indian team when he came aboard this summer," the report said.

Meanwhile, the South African coaching job is likely to go to Duncan Fletcher. The former England coach has been advising the South Africans and it is understood he would be available.

Fletcher's coaching credentials would be hard to resist for Cricket South Africa, whose chief executive Gerald Majola recently promised a 'big name' for the job when Van Zyl's term ends, the report said.

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England Beat Hungary 2-1

Steven Gerrard scored twice in four second-half minutes as England came from at the back to defeat Hungary in their first outing since their dreadful World Cup campaign.

England, by and great, received warm backing from the 72,024 inside Wembley, with clapping comfortably outweighing booing after a performance during which Fabio Capello's team produced some eye-catching attacking moves.
But the crowd voiced their disappointment when Phil Jagielka unfortunately guided a low cross into his own net after 62 minutes.
In truth, England had grounds for criticism that are sure to once again raise the subject of goal-line technology.
A Frank Lampard strike that clearly crossed the line was not awarded during England's humiliating 4-1 beat against Germany at the World Cup.
And at Wembley on Wednesday replays optional substitute Michael Dawson had cleared the ball before it had crossed the line.
The coach had moved away from the much-maligned 4-4-2 formation, opting in its place to play Barry, Gerrard and Lampard in a central midfield area, with Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, who were both left out of the World Cup squad, providing the width as Rooney operated as a lone striker.