What Match 21 of the ICC 2015 World Cup, between India and the United Arab Emirates When Saturday, February 28, 2015 - 12:00 IST| 06:30 GMT Where Western Australia Cricket Ground, Perth, Australia The teams India India have got their two biggest games of the Group phase out of the way first-up. And by winning them both with handsome margins, they have perched themselves at the top of the Pool B table quite comfortably. While they would obviously want to keep the winning momentum going, the game against UAE will give MS Dhoni a bit of a breather as well as an opportunity to give game-time to some of his reserve players. India will have to believe that any combination from their squad of 15 is capable of taking the team home against UAE. The pace trio of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Mohit Sharma has been impressive in the first two games. With Shami unavailable for the UAE game due to a mild left knee problem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could get a chance to settle into his rhythm after an injury lapse. This match will enable Bhuvi to get rid of the post-injury rustiness before the big games arrive. Dhoni had stressed time and again during the ODI tri-series the importance of giving Axar Patel more games to let him settle into the role of No. 7. Given that Ravindra Jadeja has failed with the bat (his scores in the first two games were 3 and 2) and been average with the ball (1-56 and 1-37), there is no harm in seeing if Axar provides a better alternative. The relative more pace and bounce on the WACA wicket could also prompt the inclusion of Stuart Binny over a spin all-rounder. UAE After two close games – against Zimbabwe and Ireland – the UAE are yet to open their account on the points table. Although their margins of defeats against their two opponents were relatively narrow (four wickets and two wickets), their current standard of performance will fetch them heavy defeat against stronger teams like India. This is UAE’s chance to lift their game and test their limits at the highest level. Gauging by their two performances, batting is UAE’s stronger suit with the likes of Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar in the middle-order. If they can find a way to negotiate and even thrive against the Indian spinners in those mid-overs, the team can put up a competitive score on the board. Key players India After his blistering century against Afghanistan in the warm-up match, Rohit Sharma’s bat has gone quiet. For a batsman who is at his best when the pressure is off, this could be a situation tailor-made for a big knock from the Indian opener. Time in the middle is all he needs to be a thorn in the opposition’s flesh. India will want him to go into the knockout stages as a danger to the opponents. UAE He is 43 years old and brings all the guile and experience to the table with his off-breaks. Mohammad Tauqir is UAE’s captain and their most lethal tool with the ball. Against the Indian batting line-up will come Tauqir’s most crucial test as captain and bowler. That he is one of UAE’s two players (Khurram Khan being the other) to have played against India when the teams met last in 2004, will make his role even more important. Stats Average first innings score at Perth (overall): 221 Average first innings score at Perth (since 2000): 246 Average second innings score at Perth (overall): 192 Average second innings score at Perth (since 2000): 210 Result summary at Perth:

Head-to-head:

Last meeting between both sides: July 16, 2004 at Dambulla (Asia Cup) India 260-6 (50 overs), UAE 144 (35 overs). India won by 116 runs Form guide (most recent listed first): India: W, W, L, NR, L UAE: L, L, W, L, W Pace vs Spin at Perth (Who has been more effective) since 2000

Trivia The last and only time India lost to an associate team in the World Cup was in 1979 when Sri Lanka beat India by 47 runs at Manchester. India don’t have a single player in their squad from the last game between these two teams (in 2004). UAE have two players from that team in their ranks – Khurram Khan and Mohammad Tauqir. Incidentally both Khurram and Tauqir made their ODI debut in that game. Squads India: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma. UAE: Mohammad Tauqir (capt), Amjad Ali, Anjad Javed, Andri Berenger, Fahad Alhashmi, Manjula Guruge, Kamran Shahzad, Khurram Khan, Krishna Chandran, Mohammad Naveed, Nasir Aziz, Swapnil Patil (wk), Rohan Mustafa, Saqlain Haider, Shaiman Anwar.