Practice makes perfect: Team India at the nets before their Australia semifinal showdown
Defending champions India will hope the law of averages does not catch up with them when they clash with hosts Australia in a widely-anticipated World Cup semi-final in Sydney on Thursday.
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India's Virat Kohli signs autographs for fans at a gate of the Sydney Cricket Ground during training for the semifinal on Thursday March 26. AP Photo
India's captain M S Dhoni plays a shot in the nets. Four-time champions Australia have won all six semi-finals they have appeared in since the inaugural event in 1975, but India will consider the SCG as the best venue to halt that record. AP Photo
The wear and tear at the end of a long season was evident when the covers were removed at the Sydney Cricket ground on Wednesday, revealing a dry, brown pitch that would gladden India more than their rivals. India will not cross the line, but we will not back down either, says Rohit Sharma on sledging. AP Photo
India's Shikhar Dhawan, right, chats with Stuart Binny. Starting with two wins against Pakistan and South Africa, India won all six group matches to top Pool B and then downed spirited Bangladesh by 109 runs in the quarter-finals. AP Photo
India's Suresh Raina bowls in the nets during batting practice at training. India now confront a side that has won seven of their 10 World Cup meetings against them, although Dhoni's men secured a five-wicket win in the quarter-final at home in Ahmedabad four years ago. AP Photo