Make winning a habit

India was outplayed in all departments of the game by Kenya at Port Elizabeth. From an Indian perspective, the result was baffling, shocking and extremely disappointing.

Let's get this very clear here. Unless we start winning consistently, we can never develop into a world class outfit. We will continue to stumble when least expected.

The Indians had made a good start in the Summer Spice triangular tournament, and it was important to build on the momentum. This is what champion sides like Australia or South Africa would have done.

There has to be a streak of ruthlessness in a winning combination. And it goes without saying that every match has to be treated with equal importance.

The Indians, following that wonderful performance against the Proteas, should have gone into the contest bristling with confidence and blown the opposition away.

Instead, they appeared to take the match lightly and paid the price. The Indians just refuse to make winning a habit.

There are lessons to be learnt from this debacle and one hopes the cricket management in the country gets together and sets some inherent flaws in the side right, before it gets too late.

The lack of depth in the Indian side is visible. Rest a few key players and the chinks begin to show up immediately. This is in sharp contrast to teams like Australia and South Africa that have ready-made replacements.

For years we have been talking about building a world beating team for the future, in fact, we have been saying this for the last 10 years. We still see no signs of real progress in that direction.

The Indian side continues to work in fits and starts. A brilliant display is invariably followed by a horrendous one. Like against Kenya. This will eventually take us nowhere.

It was obvious from the game that the Indians do not have an adequate second line of attack. Someone like paceman Harvinder Singh looks distinctly out of sorts at this level.

And there is too much dependence on openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Does this mean that the others cannot take up the responsibility in ODIs when the need arises?

The almost complete absence of batting after No. 6 has often done serious damage to India's chances. The depth in batting is crucial and it is here that a side like South Africa stands as a shining example.

You can seldom count the Proteas out of a game, the opposite is true in the case of Indians. The latter half of the batting invariably comes apart, and the time has come to look for urgent solutions.

The less said about India's fielding against Kenya, the better. In one word, it was pathetic. Unless we score direct hits to clinch close run-out verdicts in our favour, we can never aspire to be a top cricketing nation.

True, India `lost' the game, but a measure of praise is due to Kenya for its resilience. Few gave it a chance, yet it ended up surprising a lot of people.

The moment the Kenyans registered a score of 246 - here the 121- run opening partnership between K. Obuya and R. Shah was crucial - they knew they had a chance.

The Kenyans trooped into the field confidently and made India sweat. Even a young paceman like Joseph Angara was able to keep Tendulkar quiet for two overs before nailing him.

In the end, the game marked a bright chapter in the Kenyan cricket history, but represented a dark moment for India. Sourav Ganguly's men will have to pull up their socks...regain lost confidence.

By K.SRIKKANTH

www.krishsrikkanth.com

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