The Indian challenge for the World Cup 2011 certainly got off to rousing start with a comprehensive 38 run victory against the defending champions namely the Aussies at Bengaluru's picturesque M.Chinnaswamy Stadium,but the result only served to deepen the conundrum of uncertainity and the underlying feeling about India's preparedness and motivation to launch an all out frontal assault strategically designed with the express design of annexing the ICC World Cup trophy after a rather long and torturous 28 year long drought.
Mahendar Singh Dhoni's ill timed,thoughtless and uncalled for remarks on player fatigue and the team's struggle to mentally lift itself before the practice match against the all conquering Aussies certainly left a sour taste in the mouth as regards the Indian teams preparedness for the World Cup and left one groping in the dark as dhoni's remarks only served to deflate an already deflated team plagued with niggles, the imminent departure of it's fatherly coach and impending retirements of a few senior cricketers in the near future.
The pitch prepared by the KSCA curator Kasturirangan was certainly tailor made for the Indian spinners and only served to flatter the already much vaunted skills of a Harbhajan Singh and served on a platter a golden to Piyush Chawla an opportunity to stake his claim a permanent slot in the Indian playing eleven atleast in their first three to four matches and happily added to the team's think thanks selection related problems.
The absence of the Indian pace bowling spearhead namely Zaheer Khan did certainly raise a few eyebrows though Captain Courageous did try his best to dispel all doubts by attributing his absence to a minor groin strain that should be okay with three to four days of rest and the team management's reluctanced to risk Zaheer in an inconsequential match, the news of his groin strain does again give rise to fears of Zaheer's long term fitness and preparedness for the rigours of international cricket as his being fit and raring to go is an absolute necessity if India is to mount a serious challenge as every pitch is not going to be as spinner friendly as the Bengaluru one, and every batting line up is not going to be as brittle as the Aussies.
Gambhir and Sehwag's lack of match fitness and preparedness was on display for all to see and though Sehwag did ultimately struggle,huff,puff,edge,miss and in patches fluently stroke his way to a fifty the overall display of the so called most powerful batting line up in the World did evoke everything else but a feeling of confidence in the same as all other batsmen with the notable exceptions of Kohli,Pathan and Ashwin failed to create a ripple or leave any kind of impression on one's mind, the sterling display of quality spin bowling did certainly warm the cockles of many an Indian's hearts though the familiar fielding glitches did certainly leave one tearing out one's hair in frustration at timely intervals.
So much for preparatory matches and their related conundrums, Messrs Dhoni and company have to go through the motions in one more such aimless exercise slated for Wednesday February 16,2011 at Chennai's hallowed Chepauk turf,meanwhile Dhoni would be better served focussing his energies on launching a winning strategy and motivating his boys towards greater efforts and Everestian deeds, here's wishing the indian team goodluck and godspeed.
SUNDEEP CHOPRA.
Mahendar Singh Dhoni's ill timed,thoughtless and uncalled for remarks on player fatigue and the team's struggle to mentally lift itself before the practice match against the all conquering Aussies certainly left a sour taste in the mouth as regards the Indian teams preparedness for the World Cup and left one groping in the dark as dhoni's remarks only served to deflate an already deflated team plagued with niggles, the imminent departure of it's fatherly coach and impending retirements of a few senior cricketers in the near future.
The pitch prepared by the KSCA curator Kasturirangan was certainly tailor made for the Indian spinners and only served to flatter the already much vaunted skills of a Harbhajan Singh and served on a platter a golden to Piyush Chawla an opportunity to stake his claim a permanent slot in the Indian playing eleven atleast in their first three to four matches and happily added to the team's think thanks selection related problems.
The absence of the Indian pace bowling spearhead namely Zaheer Khan did certainly raise a few eyebrows though Captain Courageous did try his best to dispel all doubts by attributing his absence to a minor groin strain that should be okay with three to four days of rest and the team management's reluctanced to risk Zaheer in an inconsequential match, the news of his groin strain does again give rise to fears of Zaheer's long term fitness and preparedness for the rigours of international cricket as his being fit and raring to go is an absolute necessity if India is to mount a serious challenge as every pitch is not going to be as spinner friendly as the Bengaluru one, and every batting line up is not going to be as brittle as the Aussies.
Gambhir and Sehwag's lack of match fitness and preparedness was on display for all to see and though Sehwag did ultimately struggle,huff,puff,edge,miss and in patches fluently stroke his way to a fifty the overall display of the so called most powerful batting line up in the World did evoke everything else but a feeling of confidence in the same as all other batsmen with the notable exceptions of Kohli,Pathan and Ashwin failed to create a ripple or leave any kind of impression on one's mind, the sterling display of quality spin bowling did certainly warm the cockles of many an Indian's hearts though the familiar fielding glitches did certainly leave one tearing out one's hair in frustration at timely intervals.
So much for preparatory matches and their related conundrums, Messrs Dhoni and company have to go through the motions in one more such aimless exercise slated for Wednesday February 16,2011 at Chennai's hallowed Chepauk turf,meanwhile Dhoni would be better served focussing his energies on launching a winning strategy and motivating his boys towards greater efforts and Everestian deeds, here's wishing the indian team goodluck and godspeed.
SUNDEEP CHOPRA.
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