Cup's cold for India, predict punters

Product commercials, engineers designing cars in the shape of a bat, sweet shops selling Sachin rasgullas, fans reciting couplets, women wearing tricolor saris, and mobile phones firing SMSs are one in the belief that India will win the cricket World Cup.

In the midst of the circus, the Indian bookies remain pragmatic, convinced that Australia is the most likely to win. No wonder, given that at least Rs 10,000 crore is said to be involved in the industry, illegal in India.

The Indian punters have thrown their weight behind the world champion, starting it at nine to two favourite. (If Australia wins the tournament, every Rs 2 you bet on it will fetch you Rs 9.)

South Africa, currently at the top in ICC's one-day ranking, is second at 11-2. Even though no host team has ever won the Cup, West Indies is placed third at 7-1.

Sri Lanka, beaten comfortably by India in the recent one-day series, starts at 8-1, while New Zealand, which just thrashed Australia 3-0 at home, is fifth. At 11-1, India gets the none-too-flattering status of the sixth team most likely to win, ahead of, among the major teams, only Pakistan (14-1) and England (16-1).

However, some bookies say India's impressive showing in the warm-ups has shortened the odds on it to 7-1, making it the fourth most likely to win.

The Indian betting scene kicked off a month ago with bets on who would be included in the team to who would open the batting. New SIM cards with fictitious identities were bought as the bookies started setting up illegal telephone exchanges.