The Hindu : Sport : India oozes confidence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

Sport

Sport

India oozes confidence

S. Dinakar

Pakistan batting could be vulnerable on a lively wicket

Faisalabad: It was a musical night at the team hotel in Faisalabad, to raise funds for the earthquake victims. When India captain Rahul Dravid was invited to the dais and asked a specific question — "Would you like a hard, green, bouncy pitch for the Karachi Test?" — he answered: "Yes, the last time Pakistan prepared such wickets, we won the series here."

Dravid's words reflected the Indian confidence. India believes it can achieve a series triumph, even if the Karachi wicket assists the pacemen, even given the fact that Pakistan has an edge in pace attack.

There has been a transformation in the approach and attitude of the Indian team and this, in fact, stretches beyond winning and losing. The Greg Chappell-Rahul Dravid combine has put in place a process where the Indians have been seeking to imbibe the Australian method involving a positive outlook, brave selections, and exploring the various on-field options as key ingredients.

Most importantly, this side does not fear losing.

There has been a shift in the thought process of Team India. This is a tactically flexible, dynamic side capable of adapting to the situation when the game changes stripes. Much emphasis has been on youth and the youngsters have responded.

In Pakistan, the Indians have come across as a lively bunch willing to force the issue but being baulked by the placid nature of the pitches. They have been vibrant on the field, their body language sending the right signals.

When an additional slot needed to be created, either to strengthen the middle-order or include a specialist bowler, Dravid took upon himself the task of opening the innings with Virender Sehwag; at a psychological level the skipper sent a significant message to his men.

It is rare that a visiting side virtually demands the kind of surface where the home bowlers could ultimately run rampant. India seeking green-tops in Pakistan virtually amounts to a side travelling to India and asking for a turner.

But Dravid and India are willing to take that chance. The Indian captain has challenged Pakistan and can smell a victory in Karachi. He realises that the Pakistani batting, with a host of shot-makers, could be vulnerable on a lively wicket, where the Indian pacemen could make major inroads as well. And he backs his batsmen to deliver in demanding conditions.

Negative mindset

Pakistan, haunted by the memories of 2004 when it went down in the decider to India on a green-top in Rawalpindi, appears afflicted by the negative mind-set of not wanting to lose at home. In the process, the host has blunted its own pace attack apart from enabling the Indian batsmen to discover rhythm, which is a disturbing development from a Pakistani perspective.

India holds the series rubber. In the normal course, Pakistan should have been doing the entire running, while Dravid's men should have been content with a drawn series. But India is intent on a victory, which indicates that the side is looking at the bigger picture. Chappell has often spoken about taking India to the next level — which means matching Australia on the technical, mental, strategic and physical fronts; the logical step forward for a side ranked second in the ICC Test rankings.

It was in several respects a path-breaking move when India opted for five specialist bowlers in Faisalabad. Irrespective of the nature of the surface, there is an element of risk involved in entering a contest a batsman short. But then, Dravid is not your run-of-the-mill skipper. He is prepared to gamble as long as it suits the interests of the side and has a reasonable chance of working.

The Indian ploy also put responsibility on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who seemed charged by the occasion when he walked in at No. 6. And how well he responded to the challenge.

All eyes are on Karcahi. These are not the easiest of times for Pakistan. There are fitness concerns about Inzamam -ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar. But there is a possibility that both would eventually figure in the eleven in the third Test.

Inzamam's influence on the side is massive. In his own rather understated way, he is an inspirational leader of men. As PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said the other day, "You don't have to be upfront all the time to be a good leader." Interestingly, when Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Danish Kaneria indulged in behavior that was not acceptable, Inzamam was not on the field. Pakistan needs his calming influence to play good focussed cricket on the field.

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