The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A period of introspection for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

A period of introspection for India

By S. Dinakar

BANGALORE, MARCH 29. Even as the crowd melted away and dust settled on a dramatic final Test in Bangalore, a mood of dejection swept through the Indian ranks. The Pakistani celebrations continued well into the night.

The verdict after the third TVS Cup Test was 1-1, but it was the Pakistanis who gained more than their fancied counterparts. For the host, this is a period of introspection.

Any side that enters the final two sessions of the last day with nine wickets in hand, and still fails to salvage a draw, does not deserve to win the series. The Indians came up short when it mattered.

The ball did grip for the spinners on a dry last-day surface that sported more than one crack, but the Indians allowed the Pakistanis, backed by aggressive field settings, to dictate terms by adopting ultra-defensive tactics.

Whenever India approached the job with a negative mind-set, whether batting without purpose in Mohali, or choosing a path to self-destruction in Bangalore, the side lost its way. The home attack's failure to make short work of the Pakistani lower order in the first Test hurt India right at the end of the series.

Demanding phase

This is a demanding phase for captain Sourav Ganguly. While it would be harsh to ignore his contribution as a leader of men, it is time that he contributes with the willow.

His confidence at its lowest ebb, Ganguly does not appear like lasting at the wicket. The captain's footwork is tentative and he is being sorted out by the bowlers. Among the finest players of spin once, he appeared clueless against Danish Kaneria.

Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman made useful runs in the series, but they are not the dominant batsmen they once were. Among the Indian Big Four — Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly — only Dravid made a substantial difference. Is the famed Indian line-up on a decline?

The side is becoming increasingly dependent on the whirlwind ways of Virender Sehwag (544 runs in the series at 90.66). When Sehwag departs, the run-rate takes a dip, and the opposition starts applying the pressure.

Comeback paceman Lakshmipathy Balaji operated with much zest and wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Kaarthick displayed both character with the willow and some improvement behind the stumps. Both Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan need to rediscover the fire within though. A proud performer, Anil Kumble (17 wickets in the series at 37.88) turned the second Test in India's favour and batted bravely, despite a niggle in his knee, in Bangalore. His spin partner Harbhajan Singh faces an uncertain future over his bowling action.

For Inzamam-ul-Haq, the series ended on a note of triumph. Despite his rather surprising show of temper on the last day, he is evolving as a captain. On the final day here, he had his finger on the pulse of the game. The chemistry between ace strategist Bob Woolmer and Inzamam is just right, and Pakistan seems to be coming together well as a unit.

Younis comes good

The side's buoyant vice-captain, Younis Khan (508 at 101.60), picked himself out of the Mohali hole and more importantly, appears to have solved the problem of the crucial No. 3 slot. Yousuf Youhana continues to be a fluent middle-order batsman. Danish Kaneria (19 wickets at 31.52) bowled with patience and skill against a bunch of batsmen accustomed to leg-spin. And Mohammed Sami, in the role of a pace spearhead with Shoaib Akhtar injured, not only operated with fire, but also discovered greater powers of stamina. Pakistan lacked depth in its bowling, but had the men for the occasion. And Shahid Afiridi, an influential player against India, provided a dash of aggression to his side. He blazed away as an opener, snared batsmen at critical junctures with a mix of leg-spin and off-spin, and brought with him plenty of energy into the arena. He might not solve one half of Pakistan's opening dilemma on a permanent basis, but in India, Afridi did sizzle.

The Indians, in contrast, fizzled out on the decisive Monday.

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