Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is confident of beating India on Friday and progressing to the final of the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur, but has warned that his team will need to put in a 100-over performance to do so..jpg)
India's thrilling 16-run victory over the West Indies on Wednesday means that a victory for either side will see it through to Sunday's final against the West Indies.
Ponting said his team had its destiny in its own hands now but has been pleased with Australia's performances so far in the tournament as it warms up for next month's ICC Champions Trophy.
"We're not playing our best cricket by any stretch of the imagination just yet but things are looking pretty good," Ponting said.
"So if we can put in a good performance for 100 overs (on Friday) then I'm sure we will be very competitive again."
Australia beat the West Indies by 78 runs in its first game and was in a match-winning position in its second with India at 5-35 chasing 245 - which ended in a rain-marred draw - before coming unstuck against the Windies on Monday.
The Aussies have made four changes to the team, with Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Brad Hogg all returning at the expense of Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Dan Cullen and Nathan Bracken.
"We've trained really well the last couple of days. It was a disappointing result against the West Indies the other night. India have managed to sneak across the line against the West Indies last night so it's up to us now - (the winner) of this game obviously makes it through to the final so it's a big game for both teams."
Despite a number of players only having limited game time during the tournament, Ponting said the tour had given some of the younger members of the team greater international exposure.
"We've had a few guys who have done a good job. We've had a few others that with the way things have turned out, just haven't really had much opportunity to play," he said.
"You can't read too much into it just yet so hopefully we have two more games to play here and some other guys will really put their hand up and show us what they can do."
Ponting also praised back-up keeper Brad Haddin, who has been a willing understudy to incumbent Adam Gilchrist for the past few years.
"He's terrific. He's great to have around the team and his work ethic is really good - and always has been," Ponting said.
"He has matured a lot as a person and a player in the last few years and performances in the first few games have been good with the bat and the gloves."
