JOHANNESBURG, March 2: After defeating arch-rivals Pakistan, Saurav Ganguly’s India will return home as heroes even if they did not win another game at the World Cup.

But Ganguly insists Saturday’s rousing six-wicket win at Centurion was the perfect launching pad to move ahead in the tournament when the Super Six start next Friday.

“Beating Pakistan does not mean we have won the World Cup,” the Indian captain said on Sunday. “A lot of work remains to be done and we don’t want to be caught napping.

“This was a big win not because of the celebrations but because of our future in the World Cup.”

Sachin Tendulkar overcame the pain barrier and smashed 98 off 75 balls as India surpassed Pakistan’s 273-7 with 26 deliveries to spare at the SuperSport Park.

It maintained India’s all-win record over Pakistan at the World Cup and lifted them to second place in Group ‘A’ behind reigning champions Australia.

The Indians, whose only loss in the league came against Australia, will carry forward eight points into the Super Six — four gained against the third-placed qualifier and four more from the non-qualifiers.

Their opponents for the three matches in the Super Six will known only on Tuesday when the Group ‘B’ league ends.

Kenya are the only ones from the other group assued of a place in the next round, while Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand battle for the two remaining spots.

India will play the second-placed team from Group ‘B’ in their first Super Six match under the Newlands lights at Cape Town on Friday.

They then clash with Group ‘B’ winner at the Wanderers on March 10 before returning to SuperSport Park in Centurion for the last match against the third team from Group ‘B’ on March 15.

It will be India’s third game in Centurion, having lost to Australia there on Feb 15 before defeating Pakistan on Saturday.

“It’s not a bad thing to play again in Centurion,” Ganguly said. “The wicket is good and we are quite familiar with the ground.

“We have a week’s break before our first Super Six game, we’ll relax a bit but stay focussed on the task at hand.”

Ganguly conceded he was both delighted and relieved that India won on Saturday.

“Even before we left for the tournament everyone was talking of the March 1 game against Pakistan. I believe there were a lot of celebrations at home after we won.”

An indication of how important an India-Pakistan game is for fans in both cricket-crazy countries came after the last World Cup in England where India lost in the Super Six and Pakistan made the final.

Yet, the Indians were given a rousing reception only because they had defeated Pakistan in the Super Six clash at Old Trafford in the midst of the Kargil conflict in Kashmir.

The Pakistanis, on the other hand, were roundly condemned for losing to the Indians and even accused of match-fixing after crashing to an eight-wicket defeat against Australia in the final.—AFP