There are just two warm-up matches for India to fine-tune their preparation for the World Cup. Beginning with match against New Zealand at the Oval today and followed by one at Cardiff against Bangladesh on May 28, these games will be crucial for India to not only acclimatise to the conditions, here but also work out the combination best suited for their campaign to regain the trophy they have won twice — in 1983 here in London and 2011 in Mumbai.

Most of the top teams have been in the UK for over a fortnight now preparing for the World Cup and that includes defending champions Australia. The Indian players on the other hand, required rest more than anything else after a hectic IPL, which concluded only on May 12. They have taken things rather lightly since then, but now have got down to it in all earnest.