India's World Cup defence back on track

India's Cricket World Cup title defence which seemed to be hurtling off course just two weeks ago is well and truly back on track after a win over South Africa that could have serious ramifications for both sides later in the tournament.

A week after MS Dhoni's side registered just their first official win on Australian soil this summer – they had been winless from eight matches on a tour that started last November – they made it two from two with a win that goes a long way to securing top spot in Pool B and an easier path through the knockout stages.

India will be warm favourites in their remaining pool matches against the UAE, the West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe, meaning they are now in the box seat to top the group and avoid a potentially tricky quarter-final against the third-placed team in Pool A, a task that would now appear likely fall to the Proteas instead.

It is too early in this six-week tournament to yet determine who India's quarter-final opponent will be, but the race for fourth in Pool A looks likely to be between England and Bangladesh.

While it's all speculative at this stage – the sudden-death stage of the tournament is still just under a month away – India are now in a strong position to defend the title they won in Mumbai four years ago.

It's a remarkable turnaround for a side that went winless in January's Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series and were thrashed by 106 runs in an unofficial match against Australia in Adelaide just two weeks ago.

Quick Single: The day Melbourne became Mumbai

Dhoni's men had been savaged by some parts of the Indian media, with former skipper Sunil Gavaskar labelling the team's batsmen "escapists" after they were bowled out for 200 against England in Perth, having at one stage been 9-165.

But Dhoni said he had anticipated a drop in performances at some stage of such a long tour and always hoped that his side would peak at the right time.

"Right from the start we knew it would be slightly tough for us to turn it on (for the whole tour), the reason being we'd be here for four months," Dhoni said.

"We kept the intensity a bit low during the tri-series. Still we wanted to win, we pushed for the wins, but we were not able to get that.

"But at the same time we knew with the World Cup right around the corner, this tournament is much more important to us and we had to make sure that people with niggles didn't (bring them) into the World Cup.

"We've managed these things well and a lot of credit needs to be given to the support staff and the team.

"To have that healthy dressing room atmosphere despite the kind of losses that we had is something that's very difficult.

"And not to forget we get criticised a lot when we're not doing well. You may ignore that to whatever extent but it still plays a part."

The confidence in the playing group was best illustrated by their electric work in the field, both on Sunday and in Adelaide against Pakistan last week.

India ran out both AB de Villiers and David Miller on Sunday – something de Villiers himself labelled "absolutely unacceptable" – and also saved several runs with athletic dives in the field, much to the delight of the majority of the 86,876 strong crowd.

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India celebrate de Villiers' dismissal // Getty Images 

"What we know is we can add a minimum of 10 or 15 runs to whatever we score (with our fielding)," Dhoni said.

"There may be one fielder or two that are slightly slower than the others, but by no means are they bad fielders.

"Other than that, we've got some excellent fielders (and) we have fast bowlers who are above average fielders.

"I've got plenty to play with. I don't always have to think about which player goes where so I have time to think more about the strategies. That eases the pressure off me."

While the loss is hardly a knockout blow for the Proteas, it will likely make their path to what would be their first World Cup final far more difficult.

With India now favourite to top the pool, South Africa could face a quarter-final against 2007 and 2011 runners-up Sri Lanka, which would be in the spin-friendly conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

De Villiers is also wary that the margin of his team's defeat on Sunday may leave some lingering scars that could re-surface later in the tournament.

"It's a big knock for us to get beaten by 130 runs. It's almost embarrassing," he said.

"It's not just 'Oh, win a few more games and we'll be through to the quarter-finals.' It's not about that.

"Your confidence takes a bit of a knock with a performance like that and it's up to the senior group of players to make sure that confidence is still there come Friday against the West Indies.

"Because little things like today's performance can creep into your game if you start thinking about it too much and if you allow it to knock your confidence down.

"But I feel we're a mature group of players and we'll regroup and have a chat tomorrow about where we went wrong.

"We'll have a mature chat and an honest chat about it and hopefully play some good cricket.

"When it comes down to making the quarter-finals, I still believe if we play some good cricket we'll make that.

"But for now we'll have to lick our wounds and focus on Friday."

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of South Africa's two matches at this World Cup so far has been the performances of their highly-respected top four – Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and de Villiers – which the skipper this week labelled the best in the world.

The Proteas were reduced to 4-83 in their opening match against Zimbabwe last week and were 4-133 here, with du Plessis's 55 against India the only score above 30 from the quartet so far.

De Villiers was at a loss to explain Sunday's defeat and said his side had to regroup quickly ahead of what he says is a "must-win" match against the Windies in Sydney on Friday.

"Obviously after a loss like that it's quite disappointing and I almost don't want to think about it now," de Villiers said.

"But come tomorrow we'll have to start strategising about how to recover and regroup as a unit.

"For now I just want to go and feel sad in my room for a while and see how I feel tomorrow.

"We'll come with a bit of energy. This team always bounces back. We've got a never say die attitude and this tournament by a long way not over for us."

In a further blow to the Proteas, paceman Vernon Philander will have scans tomorrow after picking up a hamstring niggle that restricted him to just four overs on Sunday.

South Africa have also been fined by the ICC for a slow over rate that saw them finish their 50-overs some 30 minutes behind schedule.

While the ICC had yet to announce the extent of the fines to the Proteas players, a second slow-over rate offence in the tournament would see skipper de Villiers banned for a match.