Chika Talk
Kris Srikkanth
Kudos to the India skipper
November 06, 2007
A job well begun is half done already. With both India and Pakistan coming into this series after losing to formidable opponents, striking early momentum was very important. On paper there is hardly anything to choose between the two sides but this result would put a lot of pressure on the visitors. Last time around in India they did win four games in a row to take the series 4-2. I reckon it is going to be a lot tougher to win three of the next four games.
The Indian team are moving along nicely. The two wins in Mumbai, in an ODI and in the Twenty-20, have injected a fresh lease of life. One can associate a certain rhythm with the way the team are moving. The approach in the field, may not have been spectacular; it was effective though. The pacemen did a great job in not allowing the visitors to run away with a big score. Once the launching pad was denied, it was up to the spinners to consolidate and Murali Kartik and Harbhajan Singh did that commendably. Harbhajan's line might have been a touch negative. With his tantalising loop, Murali was a treat to watch. He was not afraid to toss the ball up and invite the batsmen to drive. It was refreshing to see a spinner in attack mode. Sachin Tendulkar also utilised the conditions well. The real difference though was the ability of the Indian spinners to make the conditions count. This is where the Pakistan spinners were found wanting. The advantage of having specialists was evident. Part time bowlers cannot produce the goods every time.
The Indian fielding in the middle overs was another reason Pakistan were unable to get away. The pressure that was created eventually translated into wickets. Skipper Dhoni deserves a pat on his back for the manner in which he rotated his bowlers. He kept things tight by having an extra fielder inside the ring when the spinners were operating and that forced the batsmen to play percentage shots. A target under 250 was never going to be a major threat. Gautam Gambhir's newfound confidence actually paved the way well in the chase. It is always helpful to have a few quick runs on the board and he was on the job from the moment he got in. Dhoni and Yuvraj might have not been at their blazing best but they adapted well.
The odd loose ball was always around the corner and they took full toll of it. The wicket was not a great advertisement for the one-day game. It was a touch slower than usual. It is also difficult to prepare good surfaces in the eastern part of India at this time of the year. Lack of sunshine makes it difficult for the surface to bind well. After an hour or so the top layer usually does not hold up well. It was not an ideal wicket for both the batsmen and bowler. The difference was India understood the situation better.
Pakistan did not have a fruitful day in the field. Mohammed Asif was sorely missed. Shoaib Malik and his men will have to pull up their socks. One more bad day at the office and the series could well be over.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
The Indian team are moving along nicely. The two wins in Mumbai, in an ODI and in the Twenty-20, have injected a fresh lease of life. One can associate a certain rhythm with the way the team are moving. The approach in the field, may not have been spectacular; it was effective though. The pacemen did a great job in not allowing the visitors to run away with a big score. Once the launching pad was denied, it was up to the spinners to consolidate and Murali Kartik and Harbhajan Singh did that commendably. Harbhajan's line might have been a touch negative. With his tantalising loop, Murali was a treat to watch. He was not afraid to toss the ball up and invite the batsmen to drive. It was refreshing to see a spinner in attack mode. Sachin Tendulkar also utilised the conditions well. The real difference though was the ability of the Indian spinners to make the conditions count. This is where the Pakistan spinners were found wanting. The advantage of having specialists was evident. Part time bowlers cannot produce the goods every time.
The Indian fielding in the middle overs was another reason Pakistan were unable to get away. The pressure that was created eventually translated into wickets. Skipper Dhoni deserves a pat on his back for the manner in which he rotated his bowlers. He kept things tight by having an extra fielder inside the ring when the spinners were operating and that forced the batsmen to play percentage shots. A target under 250 was never going to be a major threat. Gautam Gambhir's newfound confidence actually paved the way well in the chase. It is always helpful to have a few quick runs on the board and he was on the job from the moment he got in. Dhoni and Yuvraj might have not been at their blazing best but they adapted well.
The odd loose ball was always around the corner and they took full toll of it. The wicket was not a great advertisement for the one-day game. It was a touch slower than usual. It is also difficult to prepare good surfaces in the eastern part of India at this time of the year. Lack of sunshine makes it difficult for the surface to bind well. After an hour or so the top layer usually does not hold up well. It was not an ideal wicket for both the batsmen and bowler. The difference was India understood the situation better.
Pakistan did not have a fruitful day in the field. Mohammed Asif was sorely missed. Shoaib Malik and his men will have to pull up their socks. One more bad day at the office and the series could well be over.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
