Perth: The last time the Indian team played here at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground a month back (on January 30 in the tri-series), they were bowled out for just 200 by England and ended up losing by three wickets. Opener Shikhar Dhawan was building a good innings, 38 off 65 balls, in that fixture before he played a casual shot to Chris Woakes. The England pacer offered some width and the Indian, without moving his feet, tried to cut and was snapped up by wicketkeeper Jos Butler.

Same spirit
There’s a fear of this casual approach creeping in at today’s World Cup game against minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the WACA. Dhawan is quick to dismiss it though. “We will play the game with the same fighting spirit and are going to keep the same intensity tomorrow as has been through the tournament so far,” Dhawan said at yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

Shikhar Dhawan

The left-hander is in fine form having cracked a ton (146-ball 137) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against South Africa last Sunday, a week after hammering a 76-ball 73 against Pakistan.