Big test for India in cricket’s hour of redemption

When the Indian team flew out from New Delhi it did so sans the usual glamour and fanfare normally associated with the game. Were those not worrying signals?

A couple of team members confessed their show in Nairobi would be critical on two counts; checking the downward slide of the team and restoration of public interest in the game. The problem for the Indians, though, is the draw for the tourney.

Assuming India beat hosts Kenya in the opener tomorrow, the mighty Australians await them in the quarterfinals on October 7. And, the world champions as you know, are not the types the Indians fancy playing much these days.

The Indian team is admittedly low on resources. Sacking the `tainted’ players, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Nikhil Chopra, means youngsters like Yuvraj Singh, Vijay Dahiya and Zaheer Khan get a look-in in difficult times.

Now, it’s the resourcefulness of these guys which can make them men straightway or else it will be a case of yet another chance gone waste.

The Indians are in the midst of the no-cricket-for-long syndrome. Having last played in June when the Asia Cup was on with the Indians knee deep in `fixing muddle,’ the team goes straight into this tough competition with only some club match-practice to show for.

Coach Anshuman Gaekwad, dramatically re-instated after Kapil Dev `stepped down’ feels the team is fresh, of course "raring to go", but there are serious concerns in all the departments — batting, bowling and wicketkeeping.

The batting looks quite jittery, even on paper, with only the top three — skipper Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid — looking international class. Again, even though Ganguly and Dravid utilised the `off-season’ playing English County cricket, Tendulkar spent his time pondering what happened to the game he so loved. The middle-order is almost invisible.

Gaekwad says Vinod Kambli is a "match-winner on his day" but has Kambli played any decent cricket in the past two years or so?

The wicket is expected to be pacy and bouncy this time going by what the touring Karnataka state side faced in practice matches. Now, that’s not what the Indians would relish as Kenya, even though unheralded, have a couple of pacers to test the already-suspect Indians. Kenyan coach Sandeep Patil is too clever and knows the perennial Indian weakness (against fast bowling) inside out.

Indian bowling is better off, but only slightly, and with an untried wicketkeeper Dahiya behind the stumps, they are up against odds. Even though Gaekwad feels there are "as many as eight-nine who can bowl", it’s Javagal Srinath’s absence ("Now I will play, now I won’t!") which has weakened the line up.

Of course, spinner Sunil Joshi had done well here last year but will the wicket be to his liking this time around? Gaekwad talked about the morale of the team. "The boys are trying their best to come out of the past (and all the controversies). We are approaching the new season with confidence."

Yes, the good news is there is no ‘suspicious’ player in the team but so much has happened since, it would be a miracle if there still is any bonhomie left in the dressing room environs.

A fresh start is not impossible but what matters now is winning and winning alone. Nothing else.

Just pray, the Indians do not pretend the Kenyans to be pushovers.

INDIA (from): Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Singh, Vijay Dahiya (wk), Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Hemang Badani and S Sriram (pls confirm). Coach: Anshuman Gaekwad.

Hours of Play (IST): 12 noon onwards.

Live on: DD from 12 noon.