The Hindu : Sport : Dravid's captaincy instilling confidence in Team India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Sport

Sport

Dravid's captaincy instilling confidence in Team India

Bishan Singh Bedi

Indians must forget everything else and concentrate on securing a 4-1 margin in the one-dayers, says Bishen Singh Bedi

Oscar Wilde once said, "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

I hope the Indians regard these words of the Irish playwright while rejoicing at their good fortune. Despite some lapses on the field, not to forget some atrocious bowling by some of the reliables, they have managed to keep winning.

Right observation is often dismissed as cynicism by those who are bereft of the former quality. I am enamoured with Rahul Dravid's learning curve on the captaincy front. It is bringing about an overall confidence in the Indian ranks.

However, I am not very enthused with Irfan Pathan's appearence at number three with regular monotony. That position must belong to the Indian captain.

There is nothing wrong with innovative moves as long as the team management doesn't get carried away.

Not very often do we see so many fluctuations in a one-day game. With the toss, Indians grabbed the first initiative claiming four wickets early.

Then the game slipped out of the Indian's fingers while Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq flourished. Indian bowling looked thin, with Zaheer as a poor choice for super-sub. Pakistan managed 288 in 50 overs, not very daunting but respectable all the same.

Sreesanth was very unlucky having nearly four catches dropped off his bowling.

Yuvraj is coming out of the shadows of his more illustrious seniors and is beginning to look more of a Michael Bevan-type finisher. Dhoni got more compliments for his hairstyle than his dare-devil batting from the Pakistan President.

Two offies on the bench must rankle. Personally, I would like to see Rahul have six or seven bowlers at his command. Looking for wickets must be the idea. — UNI

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