How can India reach T20 finals going through big Aussies

This young Indian team has surprised and amused a lot of people at T20 worldcup, none more than South African captain, Greme Smith. Come a situation where you need to win all games to win the World-cup and India responds brillantly, raising their game by a margin to stun England and then South Africa. India now faces mighty Australia in the semi-finals and beating them wont be easy, then again, who's looking for easy wins ?? So here's how I believe India can defeat Australia.

FOCUS ON THEIR STRENGTHS: India should focus on their strength - batting. Win the toss bat first should be the order of the day. I have no doubt in my mind Australia will do the same thing. Batting first India should look to capitalize of the powerplay - first 5 overs. During this series when India have batted first they have had good starts averaging around 30 - 40 in first 5 overs. What India should do is stun Australia in this little 5 over period. Key to get this done is to prepare thier top 3 (Sehwag, Gambhir & Uthappa) just before the game to play shot of the length balls by moving down the leg side and spanking them over cover/point/long off/long on/square leg. Forget about keeping it down, have good hand eye coordination and hit it hard. India can get atleast 60-65 runs this way in first 5 overs. Loose a wicket or two never mind... they have a long batting line up. What this will do is take Australia by surprise, they don't like opposition dominating and when someone does they look quite ordinary.

Looking at Australia's bowlers Lee, Bracken, Watson, Johnson, Clark, Symonds. No spin here! Bracken is always going to be economical if you dont move around in the crease and confuse him. Symonds in my opinion should be taken to cleaners from the first ball he bowls. Stuart Clark can be a smart bowler but if you come down the wicket to him than slower balls would be easier to counter.

Bowling wise India must bowl with discpline, NO EXTRAS. Bowl with a plan and stick to it. Have a grip on their emotions as with batting team like Australia good deliveries are going to go for runs. Hayden and Gilchrist are not going to be easy to bowl at but here is how I would like to bowl to them.

Gilchrist: About a foot and a half short of driving length and just outside offstump (moving away if there is swing) . There is a good chance of him edging one to keeper or getting a leading edge trying to play it on the on side.

Hayden: Halfway down the pitch, slow loopy bouncers angling across him (anticipating he will walk down the pitch toward the bowler) or short of the length angling across to this off side. For leftarmer's they should look to bowl straight swinging in to Hayden (from outside offstump) cramp him for room. Any width and he will capitalize.

I think the bowler who can trouble both of them is RP Singh. Singh has improved leaps and bounds during this England tour, he is high on confidence having picked up 4 wickets against South Africa and has an ability to come back after bowling a bad ball. Shreesanth is a mixed-bag stuff but can bowl at lively pace and get it to swing both ways. He does bowl an unplayable delivery every now and then. Good young fast bowler for India. Harbhajan Singh is another bowler India will want to come good against Australia. Especially if new bowlers can't break the partnership of the two left handers, Harbhajan should bowl in early in the innings.

India will have to bowl Irfan Pathan and Joginder Sharma (if he plays) with caution. Aussies will target both these bowlers. 8 overs between them if go for less than 50 it should be job well done. Any wickets ofcourse would be huge bonus, Pathan can get some wickets as he is an intelligent bowler.

Fielding is going to be the deciding factor as well. India are really getting better at fielding, and thats what they showed the world when the out-fielded SA (according to Nasser Hussain :)). They need to keep doing the hard work and believe in themselves to match or better Australia at its fielding.

These are my view and thoughts how India can beat Australia tomorrow. Lets wait and watch !!