Sehwag set to shine - Knight

By Jamie Hunt.   Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am

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India's World Cup campaign is back on track, according to Paul Allott and Nick Knight, following a one-day international record 257-run win over Bermuda on Monday night.

After their opening and shock defeat to Bangladesh on Saturday, India avoided following Pakistan's early exit from the tournament first by amassing a World Cup record score of 413-5 against minnows Bermuda and then bowling them out for 156.

Virender Sehwag scored a century and Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh weighed in with half centuries after being asked to bat by Bermuda and Nick Knight feels that the most important aspect of the match was the return to form of centurion Sehwag.

He said: "The Sehwag hundred was crucial. If India are going to win this World Cup he is going to have to play a significant part in it.

"I felt, looking at his celebration when he scored a hundred - yes,  it is against Bermuda - but the way he reflected upon it, it meant so much to him and I think he realised that it may be a turning point for his form."

Allott felt the confidence the Indian top order will take from the game can only help them in their World Cup challenge, although he still has some concerns about their bowling.

He said: "They piled on the runs, bowled them out relatively cheaply in a huge win for them and all of the batsmen have got runs under their belts, apart from (Robin) Uthappa at the top of the order."

"I think the only weakness in this Indian side is the fact that they don't play a fifth bowler and they are trying to fiddle about with their bowlers between Sehwag, Yuvraj (Singh) and a bit of Tendulkar.

"I am not sure that is going to work for them in the crunch games.

"If they come against Australia or South Africa in the Super Eights, or even further on in the competition, I think they might rue the fact that they are not planning on playing a fifth recognised bowler."