The Hindu : Sport : A flexible unit is emerging

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

Sport

Sport

A flexible unit is emerging

S. Dinakar

HAVING THE CAKE... This is one cake the Indian team led by Rahul Dravid would have relished digging into after the series deciding win at Multan. — Photo: PTI

Multan: The Indians should mount a serious challenge in the 2007 World Cup. The process put in place by the Greg Chappell-Rahul Dravid combine is transforming a bunch of talented cricketers into a flexible, vibrant unit with immense pride and self-belief.

By the time the big event draws closer, India, with a healthy blend of experience and youth, should be buzzing with even more confidence that stems from winning. All credit to the side for grabbing a decisive 3-1 lead in the Hutch ODI series after the reversal in the Karachi Test.

Psychologically, it was a huge ask for the side to recover mentally after the pounding in the third Test. The Indians have stayed focussed and committed.

The absence of the injured Shoaib Akhtar did make India's task easier. Akhtar's pace and Mohammed Asif's swing and cut worked well for Pakistan, but the Indians made the most of the opportunity.

Combative unit

It is the change in the attitude and approach that has turned the side into such a combative unit. The Indians have been going about their job with much intensity and aggression. The side has been resilient on the chase, with the youngsters being undaunted by adversity.

As Chappell points out, India has to test the youth in the heat of the battle, in different roles, for the team to get the combination right. Chappell has displayed vision as coach. The youngsters are keen with breaks coming their way, while there is pressure on the seniors to perform; they just cannot remain complacent.

Much of cricket revolves around out-thinking the opposition and being predictable is a clear recipe for disaster. The interchanging of roles has converted the side into a rather dynamic one; the Indians also used the super substitute rule cleverly.

The Indian think-tank also charted out plans for the Pakistani batsmen with precise field settings. That left-arm paceman Rudra Pratap Singh consumed the in-form Shoaib Malik, who has a tendency to move on to the front foot, with a well-directed short-pitched delivery early on was part of a well thought out ploy. Malik, who had committed himself forward, was in no position to essay the fatal pull shot.

If the contest changed stripes, India found the right answers. Where there was a need for Rahul Dravid to bat at No. 3, the skipper did walk out in that slot. There is an integral toughness in this soft-spoken cricketer that has inspired his men.

Dravid rung in the bowling changes and switched his fielders around intelligently. Importantly, his man-management skills have passed the test. He has held the side together.

The chemistry between Chappell and Dravid is just right. At the heart of it all is mutual respect. On the question of work ethics, they are similar.

Sachin Tendulkar contributed immensely too. His partnership with the blazing Virender Sehwag in Rawalpindi was invaluable. Then, the Mumbaikar orchestrated the Indian chase wonderfully well in Lahore. And he did send down a superb spell of assorted stuff as the fifth bowler in Multan.

While a giant like Tendulkar continues to pull his weight, the team-management has rightly backed youngsters. The likes of the left-handed Suresh Raina, who has batted with flair and solidity, have blossomed.

Dividends

The effort of the coaching staff on someone as gifted as Yuvraj Singh has paid dividends. There were occasions in the past when the powerful left-hander was getting caught out at the crease, playing away from the body. Now he uses his feet, strokes in the `V' and is dominant.

The think-tank has succeeded in securing the most out of the mercurial Mahendra Singh Dhoni by sending him up the order. When he bats lower down, he has the confidence of the runs behind him. It was not surprising that he cut loose in the cauldron at the Gaddafi Stadium. The efforts of the batsmen notwithstanding, the Indian triumph was set up by the bowlers. The side banked on pace and was proved right. Irfan Pathan moved the white ball and landed the sphere in the right areas. His early breakthroughs stretched the Pakistani line-up. Pathan's batting continues to impress.

New ball pair

S. Sreesanth, not always lucky, added thrust and pace to the attack. Pathan and Sreesanth form an interesting new ball pair of contrasting speeds and length. Left-armer Rudra Pratap Singh was a revelation. Vitally, the Indian pacemen have been hitting the seam; the role of the support staff has been critical in this. For Test cricket, the side still requires a couple of quicker bowlers.

But then, the single biggest difference between the two sides was the quality of the Indian fielding. Yurvaj, Raina, and Kaif were magnificent in the circle, denying the Pakistanis runs. And in cricket, pressure creates opportunities.

PTI reports

Celebration time

Hours after its remarkable one-day series triumph, a jubilant Indian team gathered again at the hotel for celebrations.

The whole team, including the coach and other team officials, joined together for a `small and quiet party' where they cut a cake and danced for a while at the hotel Holiday Inn.

Yuvraj did the honours by cutting the cake and offering the first piece to Dravid and then to Tendulkar and Chappell.

From then on, the youngsters took over and picked paceman Irfan Pathan for special treatment, miring his face with the cake's icing while he tried to resist.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail