Considering India’s dismal record in one-day games against South
Africa in that country, a win and a defeat against them after two
matches in the current competition would seem to be a minor triumph
Partab Ramchand22-Jul-2009Considering India’s dismal record in one-day games against South
Africa in that country, a win and a defeat against them after two
matches in the current competition would seem to be a minor triumph.
In 1992-93, India lost the seven-game one-day series by five matches
to two. In the Standard Bank triangular series five seasons ago, the
Indians were beaten by South Africa in all three group matches and
then went down to the hosts in the final. Wednesday’s result was thus
the first Indian victory over South Africa in that country since
December 19, 1992, when they had the consolation prize of winning the
last match of that series in East London.
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It must be stated that, despite Wednesday’s result, consistency does not seem to be the hallmark of this Indian team. Unable to defend a total of 279 then and defending a total of 233 now, one wonders what lies next. Up in the clouds one day and then down in the dumps just as quickly, this Indian side excites and exasperates. |
If there is one immediate lesson that is brought home by the verdict
at Centurion, it is that India has to play to its strengths. Even in
one dayers, though it may not be as pronounced as it is in Tests, the
strength of the Indian attack lies in its spin bowling. And now that
the country has two worldclass spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Anil
Kumble, it would be better to play both, along with two seamers, and
leave the remaining 10 overs to the likes of Tendulkar, Sehwag,
Ganguly and Yuvraj. Come to think of it, Sehwag did not do too badly,
but why was Yuvraj not given the ball, one wonders.It was the combination of Harbhajan and Kumble that had the South
African batsmen all tied up in knots on Wednesday. However gallant the
Indian seam bowlers may be, Srinath, Prasad and Agarkar have their
limitations. In any case, the South Africans clearly have few problems
playing them. But as was proved in the second game, they can be
shackled while trying to negotiate good spin bowling. Granted the
wicket had something in it and was not as flat as the Wanderers
stadium pitch was during the first game last week. But on any surface,
India must play both their front-line spinners to stand a chance.That said, it must also be stated that, despite Wednesday’s result,
consistency does not seem to be the hallmark of this Indian team.
Unable to defend a total of 279 then and defending a total of 233 now,
one wonders what lies next. Up in the clouds one day and then down in
the dumps just as quickly, this Indian side excites and exasperates.
The excitement level was high during the time they batted in the first
game, and Ganguly and Tendulkar dished out some sterling stuff. The
exasperating part came only in the second half of the game, thanks to
wayward bowling. But the batsmen too have to cop part of the blame,
for, after the kind of dream start given by the openers, a total of
300 should have been notched up. Unfortunately, the middle order
botched it up.I was never happy with Shiv Sundar Das’ selection. I argued that he is
the one specialist Test opener we have and his precious gifts should
be preserved for the longer game. His superb technique is bound to
suffer thanks to the exposure to slam-bang cricket. Moreover, the team
management just does not know where to fit him in. In the first match
he went in at No 7, but in the second he was sent in at No 3. It is
this kind of yo-yo treatment that has, over the years, nipped the
career of many budding batsmen. Reetinder Singh Sodhi, a player of
considerable promise, could be played instead; that would also give
Ganguly an additional bowling option.Overall, however, the Indians can look back with some satisfaction at
their performance in the tournament so far. But even with Kenya just
there to make up the numbers though one must guard against overconfidence there is still plenty of work to be done. Consistency is
the key word. The team now has three batsmen who have exceeded 5000
runs in one-day internationals, two bowlers who have crossed the 200-
wicket mark, and exciting young talent in Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Sodhi and
Sehwag. Agarkar has always been an exemplary one-day cricketer,
whatever his lamentable record in Tests, and Deep Dasgupta seems to be
shaping well. The nucleus of a really fine side is very much there
perhaps even one good enough to take the title. Now if only the
players perform up to potential.
