We are ready for India vs Australia in quarter final, declares Yuvraj

Crisis man Yuvraj Singh, who is in fine form, is gung ho about taking on Australian bowlers in the quarter- final, after having guided India to an 80 run win over the West Indies. A crisis often brings out the best in Yuvraj and the dashing left- hander said India were aiming for the title and in that quest the team would not mind playing anyone at any stage on way to attaining glory. He even tried to indulge in mind games ahead of Thursday’s encounter in Ahmedabad.

“ Australia are a top side. They’ve won three successive World Cups, but Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden are not there,” he told reporters after the win at the MA Chidambaram Stadium after scoring 113, his maiden ton in the World Cup and 13th in ODIs. Except for Warne, the others were part of the Australian team that defeated India in the final of the 2003 World Cup, and this would be an opportunity for Yuvraj and others who suffered that defeat to take sweet revenge.

“ You can get into the middle- order and [captain Ricky] Ponting is not in great form. If we can get into their weaknesses, we can win the quarterfinal,” he said optimistically. “ They (defending champions) won five games (in the group stage). I think, both teams are equal, but it all depends on who plays better on that particular day. We are aware of their weaknesses and I am sure we can win.” Disclosing that he had stomach cramps due to which he vomited a few times during his innings, Yuvraj said he would be fit for Thursday’s big game. “ You are playing a World Cup quarter- final for your country, you have to give 100 percent. It’s the moment of our lives, the moment you live for as a cricketer,” he said, perhaps thinking about the defeat in the 2003 final.

The Punjab batsman scored an ODI century after two years and was happy to be peaking at the right time in the competition in which he now has scored a century and three half- centuries in six matches.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy lauded Sachin Tendulkar for ‘walking’, despite the umpire declaring him not out, while ruing his team’s batting collapse.

“ It shows the measure of the man.He is a true gentleman,” he said with a smile. Then, with his tongue firmly in cheek, he quipped: “ After 17,000 runs, he could afford to walk.” On the collapse during which West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 34, Sammy said: “ Good thing is that it is not a knock- out stage. If that happened we could be leaving for home.”