Chappell gets his script right

But for the rains, everything is going according to script for the Indian coach Greg Chappell: a highly-competitive Challenger tournament, a...

But for the rains, everything is going according to script for the Indian coach Greg Chappell: a highly-competitive Challenger tournament, an end to the ambiguity surrounding captaincy, a general consensus about the team and, finally, his long-standing demand for a pre-series three-day camp.

As a result, the Indian team seems better prepared to take on the touring Sri Lankans, unlike the chaotic pre-tour activity before the Zimbabwe series last month. For the moment, the only threat to Chappell8217;s plans on his first series at home seems to be the incessant rains.

But the Banglorians 8212; coach Chappell happens to be one of them 8212; have been living under a leaking roof for the past week and this hasn8217;t dampened the coach8217;s spirit.

8216;8216;There is always the option of holding the nets indoors,8217;8217; he said on the eve of the camp as players started trickling in. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina were among the first to check in. The late night flight from Mumbai will see the arrival of Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar and physio John Gloster.

The World XI stars are expected to arrive tomorrow morning. Skipper Rahul Dravid would land here after a short visit to Nagpur, while vice-captain Virender Sehwag would come after a brief stopover in Delhi.

The focus will once again be on Tendulkar, who will be attending his first Chappell camp. His fragile elbow and equally brittle form will be two areas that the coach, trainer and physio will have to work on.

Besides, there are a few other areas that will be under scrutiny at this three-day camp: Sehwag8217;s one-day form, Gambhir8217;s graduation as an opener in the shorter version, Harbhajan8217;s missing spark and rediscovering the Dhoni of the Pakistan series.

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But one thing that will be on top of Chappell8217;s agenda will be the youngsters in the side, especially the two pacers RP Singh and Sree Santh. They have the most difficult task of bowling on dead tracks at Pune, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Baroda.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More