Getting it right, finally

In the end, it was all too easy for India but it needn8217;t have been. Yes, it was only Namibia, but they had shone just a few days ago. P...

In the end, it was all too easy for India but it needn8217;t have been. Yes, it was only Namibia, but they had shone just a few days ago. Pre-match forecasts, and form, had pointed to a closer encounter but once the umpires called play there was only one team in this.

And when it was over, Namibia8217;s weak response mercifully cut short by a Yuvraj cameo, the Indians knew the Super Six was in their hands. England are next up, equally confident, perhaps, but no match if India fire on all cylinders.


Saurav Ganguly completes his century in the match against Namibia. Reuters

A win such as this carries almost as many inherent dangers 8212; overconfidence, for one 8212; as it does positives but the Indian team will be satisfied today that it dealt with a lesser team as it should: remorseless, exploiting whatever chances came its way, yet patient and wary enough to avoid the complacency trap.

Speaking after the match, a visibly relaxed Saurav Ganguly 8212; while acknowledging that the England game would be on a different level 8212; stressed that today8217;s win had charged up his team.

If the match 8212; or mis-match 8212; verged on the boring, there were some good signals for an Indian team struggling through this tournament. For one, the batsmen played with concentration and grit, deciding to bat out the 50 overs instead of going into overdrive from the first ball. Getting the basics right, as Ganguly said afterwards.

It wasn8217;t only batting that gave India joy; the bowling continues to shine. While Javagal Srinath has often been the one to effect a breakthrough, Zaheer took over those duties today. He was consistent in speed and accuracy, though there was little to unsettle him.

Of that there will be plenty against England, who will ask tougher questions than Namibia did. For one, the team selection raised eyebrows before the annihilation began. The think-tank got away with the decision to omit Kumble, who would have created havoc among Namibia8217;s spin-starved batsmen, and Agarkar, who would have profited from the conditions and had a confidence-boost.

Ganguly8217;s plea was the tactic of not changing a winning team, and few can argue after today8217;s win. In any case, Nehra8217;s injury means that Kumble wll almost certainly play in Durban.

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The skipper8217;s decision to hand the ball to part-timers 8212; and not Tendulkar, either 8212; when he perhaps should have moved in for the kill will also draw criticism.

Yet nothing succeeds like success and India will take the field against England knowing that the paper is slowly being peeled off to reveal the tiger within.

With both teams reaching their form, Durban under the lights on Wednesday would be a crunch match in every sense of the word.

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