Will India stand out?

Sachin looked impeccable yesterday all through his innings. With every bowl you could see sheer class. He looked fitter than ever and was playing shots all over the ground with exceptional ease. It was a prolific display of his armour. His trademark straight drive made us come under his awe once again as did all his other shots. Terrific cover drives, the paddle sweep and his sixes over long-on made a world class south African bowling attack look measly. His pull off styen for a six reminded us of the treatment Caddik got in the 2003 edition. When he was on the crease India even by the worst estimates was sure to cross a total of 350-370.

However, that was all that treated an Indian fan yesterday. The rest of the team did “absolutely nothing” and wasted the 99^th international century of a legend. Sehwag was too rusty and careless in shot selection when he started and that has been the case with him all through the tournament. He never looked convincing and was living a dangerous life. If the ball sticks to his bat then it’s out of your sight in a flash but you can almost never see a skilled attempt made to make that contact. He throws his bat almost at everything, sometimes in luck and at others with out it and the proportion decides his runs.

Gambhir was slogging too. Something you will not want to see from a batsman at the international level. He was struggling and I think has struggled all through the tournament (even against the Neds) and batting for him has not been easy. This has meant that all the pressure is always on Sachin, to score the total and also keep the run rate going. In the process, one does get out and when Sachin did, India collapsed like a pack of cards. Nine wickets fell within 29 runs and Team India got out scoring 296. When the master left, India had more than 10 overs to go and 8 wickets in hand. Clearly we were 70-80 runs short even by the worst standards. Any other team would have easily put up at least a 100 runs after the start Sachin gave us.

The only other man who was supportive was MSD and he has been all through. But again he could just see people come and go. As he said in the press conference “some played for the crowd not for the country”, it is a pity that Sachin has to play in such a team. With this attitude and discipline, team India would be out in the first knock-out match they play. After all they have not won against a single “better” team in this tournament. Even the Bongs could defeat the English.

And I see no commitment to the fact that this team wanted to win this cup for Sachin. Let alone that, they cannot even give him enough support in his effort to win the cup for his country. His country for which he has lived for and loves eternally. It shall be a pity that even with talent India will not be able to win the cup. The world cup will probably be the only thing that will always elude SRT, something that he deserves more than anyone else. And perhaps, as always the Indian cricket fan will have to find solace in just the art that is on display but the art shall never fetch it’s true price.

The Battle of Centurion

Pakistan march to 273, and most experts think this is too much of a mountain to climb. "Too many," Rajbhai says mournfully. One guest, completely distraught, wants to take an early flight back to India because he does not want to witness another defeat. Someone else, more militant, suggests the team should be thrown off Vijay Mallya's jet without parachutes. Mallya, dressed in white linen, diamond studs in one year, mobile phones in both hands, refrains from expressing an opinion.

After lunch comes dessert: Sachin Tendulkar, launching an innings like a batsman at nets after the coach has announced "last round". Ordinary batsmen may play each ball on merit but Tendulkar plays according to his will. We are all stunned by the ferocity and the audacity of his strokeplay. Here is a master on top of his game, ill-treating the world's bowlers. It is edge-of-the-seat, riveting stuff.

The full article on cricinfo : The battle of Centurion