We lack finishing touch

ay after beating Pakistan. In that euphoria, we tend to feel that the task is finished, though it is not the case. Unfortunately, we take the opposition lightly when comes the time for final burst for victory.

In the 1996 World Cup, India beat Pakistan at Bangalore in the quarters quite comfortably. Such a hype and hoopla was created over the win that almost all the Indian cricketers felt that they had won the Cup already. They came tumbling down in the next game against Sri Lanka at Kolkata. Forget the fact that the surface at Eden Garden was not conducive for playing any type of cricket but the fact remains that the Indians relaxed a bit unconsciously.

To be frank, India could have won the first Test with the same ease and time that Australia took to maul Pakistan in the second Test at Sharjah.

For that, Harbhajan should have bowled in the first innings the same way he did in the second. When such a sub-standard wicket is offered to bowlers like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan, the opposition shouldn’t be given an inch.

Where was the urgency of converting the Wankhede stadium wicket into a super fast track? The pathetic pitch condition highlights the failure of those so-called experts, who were imported from outside.

The earlier wicket at Wankhede was sporting with lots of bounce and offering spin on final two days of the Test. It was result oriented too. It was stupid to see so much money going down the drain.