India calling the shots now

It was a fine victory against the world champion. India is clearly calling the shots now against Australia which now finds itself in an unfamiliar situation really.

Just goes to show how much the inspiring win at the Eden Gardens, made possible by V.V.S. Laxman and Harbhajan Singh, has transformed the side.

Indeed, India's sensational come-from-behind win in the second Test is the genesis of a revival that promises a lot more for Indian cricket.

The striking feature of India's comfortable win in the Bangalore one-dayer was the positive approach by the batsmen, pushing the Aussie bowling on the defensive.

At no stage, even during the period when quick wickets were lost, did the innings slow down and this is how things should be. In the past, India has often paid a heavy price for letting the pressure get to it, allowing the bowlers to dominate.

The Indian innings was provided the thrust by Sachin Tendulkar's onslaught on ace paceman Glenn McGrath. With a barrage of strokes Tendulkar hit McGrath out of the attack and the Aussies had been beaten back psychologically.

McGrath is the key bowler in the Aussie scheme of things and once he came under the hammer, the effect could be seen on the other bowlers too. Calculated risks to unsettle the attack is well worth taking in a limited overs contest and Tendulkar did just that.

But for the unlucky run-out, Tendulkar could have produced several other booming strokes. It was stirring batting while it lasted.

Laxman continued from where he where he left in Tests and the Hyderabad batsman is in a dominant mood these days. And the knock from the young Virender Sehwag was a vital one too.

India had lost four wickets when he walked in and another setback would have put the side under pressure. However, Sehwag played his natural attacking game and the run-rate was maintained. Similarly, wicket-keeper batsman Vijay Dahiya batted positively right from the word go making valuable runs towards the end.

The knocks from Sehwag and Dahiya were crucial, because they caught their opponents by surprise. In short, the Aussies did not have specific plans for the two and they were rattled.

And now to Rahul Dravid's controlled innings. The Karnataka batsman is fast becoming a mature cricketer and this could be seen in the first one-dayer. He rotated the strike wonderfully, cleverly allowed Sehwag and Dahiya to dominate, beside producing a few bright shots himself.

The Australians in pursuit of such a big score, were always likely to be under pressure, and the Indians, particularly Sehwag, bowling off-spin, wisely operated stump to stump.

All the pressure was on the Aussies, who succumbed to it again. Just goes to show that when the heat is on, even the top sides can crumble. The Australians are past masters in relentlessly keeping the pressure on the opposition. This time they were at the receiving end.

By K.SRIKKANTH

www.krishsrikkanth.com

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Section  : Sport
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