'Ahmedabad and Chennai wickets weren't average'

The average' rating handed out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the pitches used for India's World Cup games against Australia in Chennai and Pakistan in Ahmedabad drew a strong reaction from head coach Rahul Dravid on Saturday. In their opening game in Chennai, India bowled out Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs and chased down the target with six wickets in hand and 52 balls to spare.

- Vivek Krishnan

In Ahmedabad, India skittled Pakistan for 191 in 42.5 overs before cruising to a seven-wicket victory with 117 balls in hand. The wickets were spread evenly by the Indian bowlers in both games. Pakistan's implosion, in particular, had more to do with inept batting than any demons in the surface. India's emphatic response with the bat certainly suggested that as Rohit Sharma slammed a stroke-filled 63-ball 86 while Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten half-century.