Enough of the goodwill, let’s get back to cricket

After the Indian team returned from Australia with their heads held high, I thought that finally they have matured into an outfit which adds...

After the Indian team returned from Australia with their heads held high, I thought that finally they have matured into an outfit which adds consistency to the existing abundance of talent. That they could be easily rated as number two, close to being at par with Australia. But alas! Just three matches in Pakistan, and it seems we have gone back to our mediocre, inconsistent ways.

Before the series started, Pakistan were considered the underdogs — in the ODIs at least — with their squad in the middle of a rebuilding process. The Indians, admittedly, had a weak bowling attack, but the batting line-up was supposed to nullify the disadvantage. As things stand now, it seems the Indian deconstruction is happening at the same pace as the Pak rebuilding.

What’s the reason for this? I think that while both countries have talent in abundance, the difference is in the way youngsters are groomed. Look at the way the Pak newcomers have been handling the pressure and look at the way the celebrated Indian youngsters are crumbling. I think this is because there is a flaw in the grooming procedure.

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Also, I think the focus for the Indians have shifted from the primary job at hand to the whole goodwill thing in the air. I remember that the same thing had happened when we toured South Africa in 1992 — I was the manager of the side — to welcome the end of the apartheid era. The then BCCI president had explained to us that our job was to make friends along with playing good cricket. We were hammered, but we came back with lots of addresses to go back to.

Like then, this time also the team is being provided tremendous hospitality. Then, in the middle of all the non-cricketing stuff, the focus was lost completely. It seems like history is repeating itself 12 years down in Paksitan. I also remember that on return, I had to put the much-written about Code of Conduct in place. I hope we don’t need to do it again.

The Indians will have to pull up their socks. There are still two matches to go — both in Lahore — on ideal batting conditions. Every single player must raise his hand and be counted.

Plus, to our advantage, by the law of averages, Saurav should win the toss. And that could very well be a lion’s share of the battle won.

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