India kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia in Chennai on Sunday in the 150th clash in one-day internationals between two of cricket's heavyweight superpowers. Two-time champions India are hunting for a first major title on home turf since the 2011 World Cup win under M.S. Dhoni.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But in a limited-overs rivalry stretching back to 1980, it is five-time World Cup winners Australia who have had the upper hand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia have 83 wins to India's 56 with 10 matches ending in a no-result.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asia Cup champions India travelled 3,400 kilometres between Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram for two World Cup practice matches that were abandoned without a ball being bowled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But skipper Rohit Sharma prefered to look at the bright side of the rained-off matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I mean we were happy to get those days off. Looking at the heat and stuff like that, I've been talking about it," said Rohit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We've been playing a lot of cricket of late. We played Asia Cup; we played about four games there. Then we played three games against Australia. So that gives us an understanding of where everyone's at and what we need to do as a team as well."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added: "Apart from travelling from one part of India to another part there is nothing much we could have done but overall quite happy with how we've come into this tournament."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India came into the World Cup as the number one ranked ODI team after a crushing win over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final and then beating Australia 2-1 in three ODIs at home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's important that we look at the first game in Chennai, understand what we need to do as a team," said Rohit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Go and assess the conditions a little bit, and then try and get your best combination. And then it's game time."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Five-time winners Australia remain one of the favourites and after losing the opening two matches in India last month bounced back with a big consolation win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne hit half-centuries in the win and returning Glenn Maxwell returned career-best figures of 4-40 with his off-spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwell struck an impressive 77 in the team's second warm-up against Pakistan and skipper Pat Cummins said they are raring to go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The good thing is we've played plenty of games over in South Africa, against India and even these warm-up games," said Cummins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So, it feels like it's all come together in the last week or so. Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, a few others have just kind of come in and are now absolutely game ready."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia have dominated ODI's biggest prize and remain the only team to win a hat-trick of trophies in 1999, 2003 and 2007.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I can't take too much credit for many of them. There's a couple of the boys that were there in 2015, which obviously gives us confidence," said Cummins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n