Looks like, the Indian team is back with its characteristics labeled in the past with some justification then. India had no business to panic to cross the 200-run milestone at Auckland on a good track (for a change), to register its second win on the disastrous tour of New Zealand. They were sailing smoothly till Sehwag got out with only 18 runs needed and six wickets in hand.The Indian team was no better than any school team when it lost five wickets for just 16 runs. Whatever Sehwag did — scoring a dazzling 112 runs, the only centurion and that too twice in the whole series - went almost down the drain if the last batsman Nehra had not ventured to go for a pull with only one ball to spare. It wasn’t surprising that some ardent fans of this cricket-crazy nation snubbed the team once again as chokers, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for this win.Anyway, a win is a win and it does bolster your moral high. It also makes you forget the past sooner. However, these two victories need not make the Indians feel on top of the world. They had lost the series already. The Black Caps obviously were looking contended, as the series was about to finish. At the risk of getting complacent when the World Cup is just few days ahead, their captain did take things lightly.The Indians need to think in proper perspective and also plan the strategy now that they have a well-deserved rest for a few days. Firstly, they need to tighten the fielding, the most important aspect in present-day cricket. It is mainly because of poor fielding that Indian batsmen are always required to score extra 20 to 30 runs.Secondly, our batsmen have to get back into form as early as possible. The wickets in South Africa may have the same bounce but certainly, it may not be that lively as it were in New Zealand. There is no need to change the batting order every now and then. Saurav must open with Sehwag so that Sachin can bring the stability in the middle-order. To strengthen the batting, it is absolutely essential for Dravid to keep wickets. Parthiv Patel can provide him some rest against a weaker opposition.Fortunately, our seamers did extremely well in Kiwi land. If only they had a little bit of support from our batsmen, the picture would have been different. It was good to see Srinath bowling perfect line and length and so economically. His problem in the one-dayers is that he can bowl only ten overs and field for the remaining 40. I would also like to have both the spinners, Anil and Harbhajan in the 11 as they really bowl well in tandem. I suppose, these days, there is only one berth for the spinner in any team.Our half in the World Cup is quite tough with Australia, England and Pakistan figuring in it. However, we have all the chances to qualify for the Super Six if our batting lives upto its reputation and of course, our fielding is brought, if not on par, at least somewhere nearer to the level of the Aussies, Kiwis or South Africans.
