India played Sri Lanka in their 2nd match in the tri-series. India did win with 20 balls to spare, but it was anything but an easy win. India initially did well to restrict Sri Lanka to a score of 233 (in 50 overs compared to a 216 in 32 by Australia in first match). Indian…
This will be the biggest mistake that BCCI can possibly do at this time. India has seen a lot of success in recent past under Dhoni. Given, last 7 months have also seen India slump in the Test Format, but scaking Dhoni is the last thing Indian Cricket wants to happen. Dhoni has come out…
Why can we not have specialists for Test Cricket who can have the edge in foreign soil; time is now to find methods that go beyond the conventional methods. We need to reinvent the way we are selecting players. Pace academies have to be setup. Seeing a little of all matches in recent series, I can say with certainty that Australia’s bowling attack was not invincible like in the past. They won because of their consistency. We need to get our bowlers the same set of consistency – bowl 6 of 6 bowls in the same spot and then we will be what others. Lets have different coaches for each division with a head coach a strategy followed by many American sports. Let specialist focus on the problem to solve it.
India once again failed to cope with the swing, seam and disciplined line of the home attack, comprising Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc. Upon his dismissal of Laxman, Siddle sank to his haunches, in a sign of how much a hot day in Perth had drained Australia’s bowlers despite their regular…
It was "right" to dismiss Ian Bell; he was silly to take the run; but it was also "right" to recall because of the confusion. When I think about it; it seems like a choice I have been asked to make so many times - "The Practical thing" vs. "The Right thing". India decided to recall was the right thing to do; although it was not as per rules. They could have decided to let go of Bell and play on and nothing would have been wrong about it as per the rules of the game, but it would have be such a sad thing to do. All those people who in India, who are currently critisizing Dhoni for this; are not thinking if there was a role reversal and it was Sachin Tendulkar instead of Ian Bell. In most cases, knowing England they would not have recalled him; just think how we would have felt about it. We would have been all over the English side and critisizing them for this "right foresaken" thing. But, now when we have chosen to do the right thing - why are we upset. We should be happy that we have a team who thinks on moral ground and while they play to win, they also understand the importance of fair play.
In some sense I am happy that I did this and sad that no one in BCCI or Indian camp is talking about it. Unless we know where we are we cant look to get better. We need to know our missing points. I rather be a critic to point out the things that didnt…
Read more Revelation beyond expectation | Indian cricket team has work to do
What I found was a revelation of facts that a lot of is was favorable and because of Australia and SA not doing their best and India matching up their worst or just being a little better.
Overall, it clearly presents a case where India has been more conservative on their test playing strategies - playing less, playing at home, don't loose and play safe to draw.
Now, if all that was played just as I can see all of those, good strategy to be number one. It is like saying "Let the others fight and diminish their resources and we will come on top because of their losses."
Now - please tell me what did Dhoni do to take India here - it just happened. With a good team and safe strategy forces were in our favor. I am happy we are number one, but Dhoni did nothing in all this to happen. As a captain he could not do what all others in the past have struggled - improve our performance overseas. Change that - and then be called a Great Captain.
A chat discussion came up with the following questions quoted to me Unbeaten in test series, t20wc, one day wc, vb series etc can all be somehow attributed to dhoni’s luck ;). btw, which captain has won 3 world cups? My response is as follows: India lost a match just last year to SA. The…
I am happy that all is going well for India and I am happy for it. But, please stop propagating how "Great" Dhoni is. He is damn luck and I am glad for it.Dhoni is where Tandulkar was in 1996 just starting to prove himself. He has at least 12 more years to go to show what he can do for India. Ponting did it for Australis over a long period and it is just getting started for Captain Cool. But it is a long road and I wish he does well and starts to do what makes sense; eventually luck will run out - Sachin, Yuvi will retire; Zaheer and Bhajji will loose their speed and turn. I would like to see what he does to prepare the team for that day. If we make Dhoni the captain of Bangladesh team he wont do that good, but he can be greatest given what he does around him with a sub-optimal team. Time will test him when great guns retire and it is then he has to come on top. It is then the luck will expire and leadership will come out.
On April 2, 2011; after waiting 28 years India was crowned world champions in the game of Cricket. I was watching the match from a friend’s apartment in Plymouth – and seeing Dhoni hit a six to win the match; the most unlikely of the places I thought I would be seeing India win the…
