Flips, hits and facts about India’s successful script

Though senior pro Anil Kumble has sat out for most of the time in the tournament, everyone in the team praises his role in giving shape to the campaign.

In fact, Kumble is one of the designated bowling coaches for the tour along with Javagal Srinath and has played his role without any grudge. The camraderie between the spinners shows when Harbhajan Singh acknowledges that Kumble has helped him on several occasions.

The signs of the bonding between the players became first visible at the NatWest tri-series final at Lord’s when young turks Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif rose to the situation after the established stars were back in the pavilion.

At the World Cup, for every occasion there is a man in the Indian team who stands up to the occasion. The lack of support from bowlers has often been lamented in the past but in this World Cup their contribution has been the highlight of the Indian performance.

In three crucial games, the bowlers have proved to be match winners. If Ashish Nehra snuffed out the life from England’s reply at Durban, it was Javagal Srinath’s turn to work up all his wile to outwit the Sri Lankans at Wanderers.

Finally, Zaheer Khan won the grudge match against New Zealand at Centurion. The good thing about the trio has been that they have worked in tandem, always trying to help each other out unselfishly.

I would not be surprised if in the next match Zaheer Khan is seen helping Nehra with his run up or Srinath working out the strategy for the next batsman with his younger colleagues.

The teamwork is suitably explained by what Zaheer, very modestly, told a newspaper on the match against the Kiwis: ‘‘There was no easing of pressure…. While Sri (Javagal Srinath) stuck to line-length and Ashish Nehra relied on swing, I hit the deck.’ Just for the record, between themselves the trio have accounted for 43 wickets.

The spinners haven’t had much of a success but don’t count them out. Harbhajan Singh is a guy who hates to be away from the action. He is bound to do a number at some point of time – if not with the ball then with the bat.

In the batting side, of course, Sachin Tendulkar has been at his awesome best. Like Shoaib Akhtar, millions of cricket fans the world over will remember that cracker of an over for a lifetime. Besides being a great performer, Sachin has also been a role model and motivator to the younger batsmen. He along with Rahul Dravid, has enthusiastically helped the younger lot and the results are there to be seen.

All the batsmen have delivered at some time or the other. Yuvraj Singh has shown ample restraint and maturity not to be tempted to go for the swish and more significantly, delivered at crucial times. Mohammed Kaif has also finally put behind a painful season and gradually locked away strokes that demolished several good starts. Virender Sehwag found his touch late but came good at a crucial time.

The fielding has also been top class and Kaif’s outstanding catching needs a special mention. His world record of four catches against Lanka, run out against England provided the critical break to the team on more than one occasion. Yuvraj too has been outstanding in this department and the rockt-speed at which Zaheer ran to save a boudnary against the Kiwis just doesn’t stop playing in the mind either.