India must be ready for Ireland challenge: Ganguly

NEW DELHI: Ireland shocked England by three wickets on Wednesday and former India skipper Sourav Ganguly on Friday said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men must be ready for the Irish challenge when they face-off in their group B World Cup match in Bangalore on Sunday.

"India are the better side when it comes to the two, but they must be ready and up for the challenge that Ireland will provide them with," Ganguly said on this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Show.

"Ireland has some outstanding players, chasing down England's target with ease and Kevin O'Brien giving an outstanding performance so India will have to be up and ready for it," he added.

Ganguly, who led India to the finals of the 2003 World Cup, said Dhoni needs to weigh his bowling options properly before going into the match on Sunday.

"India will have the chance to review their bowling attack -- as to whether they go with three fast bowlers or continue with two spinners and two seamers, which I don't think is the way forward," he said.

"They need three fast bowlers and then have someone like Yusuf Pathan bowling his ten overs."

India won their World Cup opener against Bangladesh, before finishing even-stevens with England in the second match. They will take on Ireland in Bangalore in their third match of the World Cup.

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