Fit Gambhir raring to go

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has declared himself fit for India's first Super Eights match in Barbados, after missing the previous game against South Africa due to a groin injury.

"I am fit and feeling strong. I am looking forward to the big games," Gambhir said after a nets session at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados. "These are really important matches and I am looking forward to playing a big role in that."

India failed to make the semi-finals in the World Twenty20 in England last year, where they were exposed by short-pitched bowling. However, Gambhir felt India were better prepared this time, despite expectations of a fast, bouncy surface at the Kensington Oval.

"We haven't played on this wicket so we don't know how it will play. Obviously, we have heard from people that it has got a lot more bounce in it than at St Lucia," Gambhir said. "You cannot go into the match with set ideas just because the wicket is sluggish or fast. Sometimes it works the other way when a guy goes and turns the match around in six overs."

India won both their group games convincingly and Gambhir credited the varied bowling attack for setting them up.

"We cannot plan for what the opposition has strategised for us. We will go with our own strengths," he said. "We have a good quality set of bowlers who can dismiss the opposition. We also have a set of spinners who are really good. I personally think that a quality spinner is an asset and the quality will show irrespective of what the surface is.

"Our bowling unit has performed well. Zaheer (Khan), Harbhajan (Singh) and Ashish (Nehra) have done really well. They look to dismiss the opposition. That is the only way of how you can restrict the teams. By getting wickets it gives us the momentum and sets up the match for us."

India could be facing Australia in the Super Eights and Gambhir tipped them to play aggressively in order to reverse their poor record in the World Twenty20.

"Australia haven't done well in the T20s. The first time they lost in the semis and the next year they did not qualify," he said. "So you can expect Australia to come back really strong. They have got some quality players in their side who can change the course of the match."

India play their first Super Eights match on May 7.