India vs Pakistan – that has pretty much been the only match on everyone's mind ever since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 schedule was released.
The fact that India begin their title defence via the biggest possible game is a thing of beauty, but then what about the other matches? What happens after that miss-it-and-you'll-regret-it battle?
After all, while beating Pakistan is the most important thing for most India fans, there is life after that game as well. India need to win a few more of the following matches at the World Cup to ensure they not only qualify for the quarterfinals, but qualify as one of the top teams.
India have been placed in a competitive, but not as tight as Pool A, Pool B which also includes Pakistan, of course, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and UAE.
The defending champs will ideally want to go through unbeaten in the pool stages in order to ensure top place in the group as it does give teams finishing first an advantage when they head into the quarterfinals.
Games against the likes of South Africa and West Indies will not be easy, though, while Zimbabwe and Ireland are quite capable of causing a major upset. UAE will want to show they belong in this group as well, and will, therefore, hunt for a major scalp at this World Cup.
After the big Pakistan match, an even stiffer test awaits in the shape of South Africa, who come into this World Cup as bigger favourites than India. That man who goes by the name of AB De Villiers alone can dent India's hopes in a heartbeat, and India will be wary of these first two matches.
The last thing MS Dhoni will want is to go into the remaining four contests having already lost the first two – making the early two matches quite important.
Below is India's complete schedule in the group stages, with timings, fixtures, dates and venues.
15 February: India vs Pakistan (2 pm local time, 9 am IST, 3.30 am GMT, 10.30 pm ET) at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide.
22 February: India vs South Africa at (2.30 pm local time, 9 am IST, 3.30 am GMT, 10.30 pm ET) MCG, Melbourne.
28 February: India vs UAE (2.30 pm local time, 12 pm IST, 6.30 am GMT, 1.30 am ET) at WACA, Perth.
6 March: India vs West Indies at (2.30 pm local time, 12 pm IST, 6.30 am GMT, 1.30 am ET) at WACA, Perth.
10 March: India vs Ireland (2 pm local time, 6.30 am IST, 1 am GMT, 8 pm ET) at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
14 March: India vs Zimbabwe (2 pm local time, 6.30 am IST, 1 am GMT, 8 pm ET) at Eden Park, Auckland.
