Sharma knee giving India headaches

India remain hopeful Ishant Sharma will be fit for the start of the World Cup despite the star paceman suffering a flare-up of a knee injury.

Sharma hasn't bowled competitively since picking up a knee injury in the Boxing Day Test.

The 26-year-old made a return of sorts in the recent ODI in Sydney, but he wasn't required to bowl because the game was rained out.

Sharma was set for a proper return in Friday's one-day loss to England at the WACA Ground, but those plans were scuppered when he tweaked his knee on the eve of the match.

India begin their World Cup campaign against Pakistan on February 16, and captain MS Dhoni is optimistic Sharma will be fit to play.

"According to the physio he may be fit in the next four days," Dhoni said.

"If there is a niggle, it may turn into an injury ... so we didn't want to push him."

India failed to win a single game during their Test and one-day tour of Australia.

Dhoni said players would now take some time off before focusing on the World Cup.

"It has been a long tour so far but with this six to 10-day break, it will really help us," Dhoni said.

"Not only me, but everyone will lock the kit bag away and keep it somewhere we don't want to see it - completely switch off from cricket.

"From a confidence point of view we are quite good, because we always try to give more emphasis on what needs to be done - the proper planning and where we need to execute.

"We've been in this situation (before), so we know what exactly we feel and how to overcome this feeling."

India were bowled out for 200 on Friday but looked on course for victory after reducing England to 5-66 after 20 overs.

But a 125-run stand between James Taylor (82) and Jos Buttler (67) guided England to a three-wicket win with 19 balls to spare.