For a change, we are not the team expected to win

If the media is to be believed, I have unwittingly started "a war of words" between the two teams. We had an open session with the media on Thursday, where I was asked about 40 times about India's win at the Twenty20 World Cup.

I congratulated the Indians for winning the trophy with some excellent cricket (something that has not been widely reported!), but also pointed out that I was meeting the media to speak about the forthcoming series.

I am trying very hard to be back in action today itself. My recovery has been progressing at a good pace, so I have been pleading my case with the physio. A call will be taken today afternoon as to whether I can be off the blocks in the first game itself.

Including my absence, there will be six changes from the team that played in the World Cup final six months ago - our last one-day International!

That means half the side is new, but it also means that it is a great opportunity for the likes of Brad Haddin and Brad Hodge. The latter might get a chance to play up the order today and whenever he does that he generally scores heavily.

Going by the pace and bounce in the Bangalore wicket, it will suit Brett Lee and Stuart Clark. Both did quite well at the T20 World Cup, so our bowling department looks pretty strong.

Chance for Johnson

Mitchell Johnson will also get an opportunity to prove himself since Nathan Bracken is in Australia for the birth of his child.

The Indians will have Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid back in the side. Ganguly and Tendulkar had a good tour in England, so they have been doing a great job for the side. There is no real point in the age debate, because the bottom line for a selector is to choose the best team available, irrespective of age.

We were called "Dad's Army" when we played the Ashes and the World Cup. But the results are there for everybody to see.

Similarly, all these three guys have great ability and will remain in the team as long as the selectors consider them among the best on offer.

Tussle between worlds

While it might be seen as a tussle between two world champion teams, a T20 result does not mean much in a 50-over game.

Besides, as Robin Uthappa pointed out, neither tournament victory counts when we take the field today.

India have traditionally found it hard to cope with the pressure of expectations. That pressure would have increased manifold after the T20 success.

For a change, we are not the team expected to win, the pressure is more on India this time round.