Believe the hype: India's batsmen are ready

India's batsmen have lived up to the World Cup hype against Bangladesh in the opening match, leaving only slight question marks over the team's pace attack and whether the tournament favorite might peak too soon. They went up the hill and never came tumbling down

India's batsmen have lived up to the World Cup hype against Bangladesh in the opening match, leaving only slight question marks over the team's pace attack and whether the tournament favorite might peak too soon.

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The first test may well be its match against World Twenty20 holders England next Sunday.

The performance on Saturday against Bangladesh will add to the expectations among India's 1.2 billion people that their team will win its second World Cup when the final is played in Mumbai on April 2.

While other top batsmen waiting for their first matches may have taken heart from the Bangladeshi pitch, Virender Sehwag's mighty 175 and Virat Kohli's 100 not out on the way to a 370 total were a clear warning to India's title rivals.