The Kotla is now India's Gabba
It seems a funny thing to say about a venue where India didn't win for 11 Tests stretching over 15 years, but after a seventh success on the bounce, the Feroz Shah Kotla is now a fortress comparable to the Gabba, where Australia haven't lost since 1988-89. India's last defeat here came 20 years ago, with Viv Richards scoring one of the great hundreds of his career as West Indies chased down 276. Since then, India have seen off Zimbabwe thrice [in the days before reverse racism made them a club side], Pakistan twice, and notched up victories over Sri Lanka and Australia.
Anil Kumble admitted afterwards that it was all the more satisfying for the manner in which it was achieved. VVS Laxman's 72 was the highest score, and Kumble led the bowlers with seven wickets. Everyone contributed something, with Dinesh Karthik effecting a vital run out and taking a stunning catch despite failing twice with the bat. Kumble was especially animated while espousing Laxman's cause, suggesting that it was vested interests within the media that contributed to the constant innuendo over his place in the XI.
"I don't know why there's a sword hanging over his head all the time," said Kumble. "In the dressing room, we know what quality he brings to the side." There was quality too from Tendulkar, who started the day with a pull to long leg off Shoaib Akhtar and carried on in similar vein against Mohammad Sami. With victory certain, he had the freedom to express himself, and India will hope that he takes the good form with him to Kolkata and Bangalore.
Shoaib Malik spoke repeatedly about how Pakistan were a 100 runs short, but he might also need to look at better support for Shoaib, who was a one-man wrecking ball in the second innings. Sami bowled exceptionally well at times with little luck, but he's also prone to the four-balls that release pressure. As for Danish Kaneria, he just didn't look in the same class as Kumble on a pitch that had little to offer.
On now to the Eden Gardens, where India have won four of six Tests over the past decade, including the unbelievable turnaround against Australia in March 2001. Their own defeat came against Pakistan, in the Asian Test Championship game in 1999. The game-breaker on that occasion? An unknown tearaway by the name of Shoaib Akhtar.
Well, you said it yourself. Right now, there's no place for Kaif in the team. And frankly, I put Yuvraj and Raina ahead of him in the queue. Even Badrinath.
Posted by: Dileep | November 27, 2007 at 06:17 PM
Hi Dileep,
I agree with you in that,it is definitely applicable to Chopra (he never scored big), but still remain to be convinced RE: Mohd Kaif.
In addition to those scores against Australia in 2004 (he was the best player - he was then dropped on the eve of playing at his home ground, Kanpur, against S.Af). He scored a match-saving 93 against England in Nagpur in 2006, only to be dumped in the next game. He scored 148 in the third test against the West Indies, only to be dropped altogether after some below-par performances in ODI's.
I find his treatment rather shocking, as I think he has the temperament to be a 'gritty' Indian-version of a Paul Collingwood. Useful at no.6 in test matches (obviously not right now, but would have been in so in the future post-VVS,Saurav etc).
Posted by: Tarun Y | November 27, 2007 at 03:07 PM
Well, all great teams have that squad strength and pressure. It's a good thing.
Posted by: Dileep | November 27, 2007 at 07:33 AM
An unsaid fact is that every player is now watching his back, because if he fails to perform, there is a "hungry" substitute waiting in the wings to take his place. This was not so till very recently. Hence the pressure to perform.
Posted by: Ravinder Jain | November 27, 2007 at 06:47 AM
Much as I liked the hard work that Chopra and Kaif put in, neither made themselves indispensable like a Dravid or a Tendulkar. When you get in, you have to score big. They never did that. Ganguly may not have scored hundreds recently, but he's played defining innings in SA, England and now here. His bowling is a bonus.
Posted by: Dileep | November 26, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Great to hear Kumble's comments regarding Laxman. Finally a captain speaks up for him. If only he backs up his words by moving him up the order.
It is the TV and newspaper media that uses every opportunity to run him down. Maybe it is because he is a convenient target to deflect blame from a particular left hander, who has a whole army of media personnel speaking up for him. Cricinfo is the only publication that cares to write the truth. No wonder it attracts the best cricket writers. May their tribe increase.
Posted by: Rajeev Mohan | November 26, 2007 at 04:39 PM
Hi Dileep,
I dont think thats necessarily true.
Two people were chopped from the team after some 'good form':
1) Akash Chopra, dumped for Yuvraj (as opener) against Pakistan after doing well in series against NZ (home) and Aus (away).
2) Mohd Kaif, dumped, after scoring three 50's against Australia in 2004 and was by and large, our best player in that series were we lost 1-2.
Posted by: Tarun Y | November 26, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Why would he not make it? As long as someone in the team - doesn't matter if it's Ganguly or anyone else - is performing, their place is not in doubt. There's certainly no need to chop and change when you're winning.
Posted by: Dileep | November 26, 2007 at 09:09 AM
and what do you have to say about the bengal tiger's chances of making it to the team for australia?
Posted by: avinash subramaniam | November 26, 2007 at 07:56 AM