After all the changes, the batting’s in order

So there is method in the madness.

Actually, it’s quite simple: Chappell’s frequent shuffling of the pack has finally produced the winning hand — or the one most likely to succeed. In ideal conditions — which also means that Mohammad Kaif is fit — the top order would read: Sehwag, Tendulkar, Kaif, Dravid, Yuvraj and Dhoni. Following them, in no particular order, would be Pathan, JP Yadav, Agarkar and two other bowlers.

Equally importantly, his backup plan has also clicked. His famous insistence on flexibility to overcome emergencies is now paying off; the injuries to key players and different match situations have demanded more out of his tactics, and he has the players in hand.

As was seen at the pre-series camp in Bangalore, and later in the two ODIs against Lanka, Plan B has Pathan, JP Yadav and Agarkar as the jokers in the pack capable of adjusting anywhere in the sequence. And from the bench worthy replacements in Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and Venugopal Rao.

None of this has come about by chance. In the 12 games under Chappell, Kaif has played everywhere from No. 1 to No. 6. It was finally in Zimbabwe that he settled at No.3. Scores of 65, 102 and 93 at one-drop meant he’d found his sweet spot.

When he was injured Chappell, had a replacement ready; Pathan came in at one-drop and scored 83. That, too, was planned. At the Bangalore camp, Pathan would, after a day’s backbreaking bowling, get to work with the bat.

At Nagpur, all that hard work paid off.

Dhoni too has shuttled up and down the order but seems settled at No.6. He opened in Lanka, played at No.4 in Zimbabwe but now seems at ease at four down. Despite his 148 against Pakistan in the Ganguly-Wright era at No.3, Dhoni seems better suited at the slog. His scoring sequence in his last five games — 56, 37, 67, 11 and 38, all in even time — proves this.

Experiments with the seniors, Dravid and Yuvraj, have been more restrained and they now have permanent spots. The two have both played at Nos 3, 4 and 5 but are now settled at 4 and 5 respectively.

That’s the settled order, the only variable being at No 3, pending Kaif’s return. One can see Raina, Venu or Irfan walking in after the fall of an opener. And if any of them clicks Chappell can just smile at another successful experiment and more sturdy batting line-up.