The Hindu : Sport : India needs to forget the debacle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

Sport

Sport

India needs to forget the debacle

S. Dinakar

CUP TO FIGHT FOR: Rahul Dravid and Younis Khan hold the Hutch Cup for the ODI series. — Photo: S. Subramanium

Peshawar: One series is over, another begins. The Indians need to put behind them quickly the debacle in the Test series.

The five-match ODI series, beginning here on February 6, will be as much a test of skills and tactics and character as the Tests. Can the Indians recover mentally from the pounding at Karachi?

Even as the teams boarded the afternoon flight for Peshawar, the difference in the mood of the two camps was visible. The Pakistanis were upbeat and the Indians a little downcast, which is understandable under the circumstances; the tale of missed opportunities at Karachi is bound to rankle Rahul Dravid's men for a while.

The Pakistanis radiate with the kind of confidence that only a thumping triumph of the sort achieved at the National Stadium can bring. Even the news of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq having to rush to Multan to be with his ailing father could not dampen the spirits. The host is confident that Inzamam will be available for all the matches.

The team-management also believes that Inzamam has recovered well from his back injury. "Inzamam is a legend. His presence is extremely important. He is fit," said vice-captain Younis Khan.

Earlier, Rahul Dravid and Younis unveiled the `Hutch Cup' in the afternoon.

Dose of fresh energy

India should not bear the scars of the Test series. On the brighter side for the Indians, Mohammed Kaif, Suresh Raina, Murali Kartik and S. Sreesanth should bring a dose of freshness and energy. Somebody like Sreesanth, with his pace and potential, should have been there in the Test squad in the first place.

India had been a vibrant team in the home ODI series earlier this season, with coach Greg Chappell and Rahul Dravid bringing about a change in attitude and approach. Youth was, bravely, given a fling. India trounced the Sri Lankans 6-1 and roared back to level the series 2-2 against the South Africans.

In both these series, India came across as a flexible unit. The experiments with Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the No. 3 slot helped India unsettle the opponents, especially the Sri Lankans. There were other switches in the batting order that worked for the side.

Said Dravid on the question of flexibility, "Shuffling of the batting order will depend on strategy and other conditions. But the post-mortem of the ODI series shows that we will have to play the key players in the positions suited to them."

There is also the possibility that Dravid is holding his cards close to his chest. It would not come as a surprise if India does indeed carry out switches in the batting order.

No dip in morale

The Indian captain maintained that morale of the side had not dropped. "It (ODI series) will be an altogether different ball game. We do not need any extra motivation. Playing Pakistan is a motivation in itself."

Pakistan has a distinct edge in pace bowling. It is also a side with batting depth and a wealth of all-round talent. Dravid acknowledged Pakistan's capabilities. "We are playing Pakistan at home and we know we are up against a good side. It will be a new challenge."

On the question of openers, Dravid said the combination of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar would be doing the job on most occasions. Tendulkar faces question marks over form.

The verdict of the series would also depend on how well the teams use the super substitute rule.

The openers will done a crucial role. Younis spoke about the different options before Pakistan, especially regarding the top two men in the order. He was not willing to underestimate the opponent. "We will have to play well to defeat India."

In this context, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar was not hundred per cent fit for the final Test, but decided to play. The PCB chief said if Akhtar wanted to rest in any of the ODIs, there were viable replacements available in the squad. Pakistan bristles with pace bowling talent.

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