India sets out on a difficult mission

Published : Jul 21, 2001 00:00 IST

S. DINAKAR

THE Indians will strive to exorcise the ghosts of Zimbabwe, where they flattered to deceive in both the Tests and the one-day triangular competition, when they embark to Sri Lanka in what should be a challenging campaign.

And Sourav Ganguly's team will be without the services of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar for most part of the one-day tournament that precedes the Test series, with the Mumbai maestro only joining the side in time for the last league game, after providing rest to an injured heel.

To a side dependent on this great player to bail it out in times of distress, his absence presents a fine opportunity to the other batsmen to pull their weight. Whether they rise to the occasion remains to be seen.

For skipper Sourav Ganguly, whose captaincy came under scrutiny in Zimbabwe - he endured a barren run with the bat too in the Test series - the tour of the emerald island will be a severe test of character. He has to show the way, lead by example, answer the doubters.

Here, we will take a separate look at the one-day tournament and the Test series.

The triangular series: India will be up against Sri Lanka, a formidable rival, especially at home, and New Zealand, an efficient outfit that cannot be treated lightly in the abbreviated form of the game.

The Indians have faced a mental blackout in the summit clashes over the last couple of years, going down in as many as seven of them, and it is the battle of the mind that they have to win in the business end of the competition.

In Zimbabwe, the batting sparkled only in patches and it is here that more consistency will have to be on view. Too many top and middle-order wickets fell at the wrong time, to the wrong strokes in the final.

In the absence of Tendulkar, the recalled Amay Khurasiya, a southpaw who loves having a crack at the bowlers, will open the innings with Ganguly until the final game of the league phase. So far, the Madhya Pradesh batsman's career has been one of unfulfilled promises. Will he find the key to success in Lanka?

Also making a comeback is the left-handed Yuveraj Singh, explosive when in mood, but prone to going off the boil mentally. His suspect temperament has been held against him and it is up to Yuveraj to revive his international career, that began so promisingly last season.

Delhi's Virendra Sehwag will also be on trial, a string of lacklustre performances hardly backing his sterling display in the day\night Bangalore one-dayer against Australia. And a streak of inconsistency has crept into the talented Hemang Badani's displays - the fact that he has been shunted up and down the order hasn't helped matters either.

In the event, much of the burden rests on Ganguly, vice-captain Rahul Dravid and the gifted V.V.S. Laxman. The solid Dravid had his moments in Zimbabwe. However, a couple of failures would rankle this proud performer. And Laxman, who appeared in fine nick only to throw his wicket away time and again without making a significant contribution, has to tighten up his act.

On the positive side has been the performance of the young Reetinder Singh Sodhi, an industrious cricketer who never says die. There is a refreshing air about his free-stroking ways at the crease, he is a limited but a large-hearted medium-pacer, and is a tiger on the field really. The Sardar's positive attitude and approach were on view in Zimbabwe.

Along with Sameer Dighe, the Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman who continues to surprise people with his willingness to slug it out, Reetinder has certainly added depth to the Indian batting line-up.

Yet, the biggest gain has been in bowling. Indeed, the Indian pace-attack has an incisive look about it this time around, with left-armers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan providing the cutting edge - lacking in 'big match' experience they can be forgiven for an off-day in the Harare final. However, for the 'now brilliant' 'now erratic' Ajit Agarkar, this could be a 'make or break' tour. Ditto for Debasis Mohanty - in as the reserve seamer - who had a horrendous final in Harare.

Harbhajan Singh has slipped effortlessly into the role of the spin spearhead in Anil Kumble's absence, providing a new dimension to the attack with his off-spin. This time around he will have the support of left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi, a much improved bowler believing in the virtues of flight. He was treated rather shabbily by the selectors last season.

The Lankans will start with a huge psychological advantage having demolished the Indians in the final of the Sharjah tournament, that followed the ICC Knock-out Trophy last season. It was the Lankan pace attack of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa that caused havoc then, and this time, the left-armers will be supported by the genuinely quick Dilhara Fernando, Suresh Perera and Dulip Liyanage.

Then there is the Muttiah Muralitharan factor, and the off-spinner is a match-winner in every sense of the term, any time, any place.

There is plenty of firepower in batting what with men like Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, the strokeful Mahela Jayawardene and Avishka Gunawardene around. The calming influence will be provided by the silken smooth Marvan Atapattu, and the cool, calculated Russel Arnold.

Coming to the New Zealanders, the versatile Chris Cairns, such an influential figure in the Kiwi scheme of things, is still out with a knee injury that has required a major surgery, but pace-bowling all-rounder Dion Nash and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori are back. And Chris Harris, such a useful performer in overs-limit cricket, will be the 'utility man.'

Skipper Stephen Fleming and the hard-hitting Nathan Astle should be the batting mainstays. However, southpaw Roger Twose, an outstanding performer in the ICC knock-out tournament where the Kiwis kept a date with their finest hour in one-day cricket, is not in the side. There are rumours that the England-born cricketer has called it a day.

The Kiwis are a wonderful fielding side and it is not beyond them to write their own script in the tournament. The favourites are, of course, Lanka, and the Indians have their task cut out.

The Indian team for the triangular one-day tournament in Sri Lanka (the changes for the three-Test series will be made later):

Sourav Ganguly (captain), Amay Khurasiya, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Hemang Badani, Yuveraj Singh, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Virender Sehwag, Sameer Dighe, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Debasis Mohanty, Rahul Sanghvi and Harbhajan Singh. Sachin Tendulkar will join the side for the last league match. Coach: John Wright; Physio: Andrew Leipus; Manager: Anant Mate.

The Test series: Lanka has always been a tough frontier to conquer and it promises to be no different for the Indians this time.

The Indians were humbled in 1985 when Lanka registered its first victory in Test cricket, but bounced back in '93, bearding the lion in its own den. India had to endure a barren run in '97, when Sanath Jayasuriya & Co. made a mountain of runs, and now it returns to the emerald isle. for yet another testing campaign.

To start with, the Indians have to settle down on an opening pair. Shiv Sundar Das, who apart from displaying an impeccable technique in Zimbabwe, also revealed an ability to shoulder responsibility, is a definite gain for India, while the left-handed Sadagopan Ramesh has undergone more uncertain times lately.

Yet, Ramesh has an average close to 40 in Tests, knows the conditions having made a century in the one-off Test in Colombo (1998-99 season), and cannot be counted out. It would, however, make sense if the selectors pick a reserve opener, so that the Indians are not caught napping like in Zimbabwe when Ramesh missed the second Test with an injury.

The ball will not seam around as it did in Zimbabwe and the Indian top and middle-order is in safe hands in these conditions with Laxman, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid around. Of course, Tendulkar and Dravid can hold their own even in seaming conditions.

Javagal Srinath should provide a dash of experience joining hands with Nehra or Zaheer in the Test series. In Lanka, Harbhajan will require spin support, and the Indians may not enter a Test with three pacemen as in Zimbabwe. Unless, the team-management decides to field five specialist bowlers, which would be a brave move.

It would also not be a bad idea to groom a young wicket-keeper, even if Sameer Dighe has grown in stature as a limited but a fighting cricketer. Someone like Haryana's young Ajay Ratra should fit the bill since it is important for the Indians to look ahead.

There is no dearth of talent in Lankan cricket, what with young men like Arnold, Jayawardene, and Kumara Sangakkara around. And they are backed by the experience of the explosive Jayasuriya and the smooth stroking, technically accomplished Marvan Atapattu.

Atapattu, composed and solid, has been a pillar of strength at the top of the order and he presents a daunting challenge to the Indian bowlers. In other words, he has to be removed early for the Indians to make inroads.

Then there is Jayasuriya, who does seem to have a special liking for the Indian bowlers, cutting and pulling them ruthlessly to the different corners of the ground.

And ace batsman Aravinda de Silva is definitely a part of the Lankan game-plan for the Test series. He has in the past proved India's bugbear, the principal stumbling block, and it could be no different this time. Aravinda, dropped from the one-dayers, has a point to prove. Did someone say that a wounded lion is more dangerous?

Muralitharan will be on the prowl too, and the offie is one of those rare spinners who has commanded respect from the Indian batsmen, who are adept at using their feet against the flighted ball.

And then there are the left-arm pacemen, the experienced Vaas and the lanky Nuwan Zoysa, who can get the ball to climb nastily on occasions. The man to watch out would be the fiery Dilhara Fernando, among the quickest bowlers in world cricket these days, though the media hype that accompanies a Brett Lee or a Shoaib Akhtar is missing in his case.

In coach Dav Whatmore, the Lankans have a master strategist, who knows quite a bit about psychological warfare as well. Will Wright come up with the right answers for India?

More stories from this issue

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment