Cricket World Cup: Bollywood stars, bureaucrats and flightloads of gleeful fans are all converging here to watch India take their next step towards challenging the Australians for the title, but it is strictly business time for the team.
If their houses were vandalised after a first-round defeat to the world's best team, what might a semi-final defeat by Kenya bring? It has been taken for granted by India's millions that their team are in the final. Kenya's penchant for the upset - they have twice beaten India in 11 matches - seems to have been ignored altogether.
Sourav Ganguly, the captain, admitted: "Playing Kenya is better than facing any other side but we want to be up for the game because Kenya have surprised quite a few teams. In a World Cup semi-final no team can be complacent."
The past few days have involved the usual bouts of gym training and net practice, though in yesterday's session at Kingsmead attention was focused on Port Elizabeth, where they hoped Sri Lanka would edge past Australia. Yet Ganguly knows his team are capable of toppling even the all-conquering Australians.
"Pressure can crack anybody," he said. "Winning the World Cup is every cricketer's dream, and I'm no different."
Reaching a World Cup final would also be a great moment in the life of the coach John Wright, who as acting captain of the New Zealand team in the semi-final of the 1992 edition allowed the fearlessness of the Pakistanis to overawe him while defending a big total. "For all of us it's one of the biggest games of our career," Wright said. "I love my job, I love the passion for cricket in India. The Indian people need, want and deserve a good cricket team."
Kenya, with their captain Steve Tikolo recovered from tonsillitis to take his place in the team, will be at full strength for the semi-final. Tikolo's inclusion has helped the coach Sandeep Patil retain hopes of an upset.
"Every batsman, even Tendulkar, is weak around the off stump. If our bowlers show discipline, and fielding well, anything can happen," he said.
Guardian Service
