Indian team sans five players arrive at Chennai

The Indian cricket squad arrived here on Monday for Sunday’s crucial group B match of the World Cup against the West Indies. 

The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, smarting from the three-wicket loss to South Africa in Nagpur, arrived here from Delhi by a Jet airways flight this afternoon. 

Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a century in the match against South Africa, Gautam Ghambir, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan did not come with the rest of the team and are likely to join them on Tuesday. 

The players drove straight to the hotel and are not having any practice session on Monday. 

India suffered a stunning batting collapse as they lost nine wickets for only 29 runs to crumble to 296 all out in 48.4 overs after being 267 for one in the 40th over. 

India are now on top of the group with seven points from five matches while South Africa and West Indies (both four matches) and Bangladesh (five matches) have six points each. 

England, with five points, must win their next game against West Indies to qualify for the quarterfinals. 

Both the West Indies and England are already in the city and are having a day’s rest today ahead of their match on March 17.