| Whither India |
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| Written by Jonathan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 26 March 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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There was a telling and poignant moment at the Oval as the Indian innings wound
down. A wounded Rahul Dravid had pulled his third of four straight boundaries and, to a man, the security forces began their gradual encircling of the grounds.
To any seasoned observer, and that includes the security forces, the
skip had declared the game over and was going down with guns blazing. Such a tactic against such an attack meant the guns would not blaze for much longer.
Having a feared favourite take an early departure from any tournament usually
brings relief for supporters of the other competitors. However, as the camera panned to the shell-shocked looks on the players faces, and on Dravid's in particular as he began his slow walk off the field and then when sitting in the team balcony, a pang of sympathy could almost be tangibly felt by the muted crowd. Everyone, everywhere, knows of Indian national expectations and the corresponding pressure that comes with it is nothing to be coveted. Still, what can be said by some of us who had seen, on two occasions no less, the most experienced ODI team in the tournament be (in the first) out-foxed and (in the second) 'out-composured'. Watching the game with me mum-in-law brought its own insight as she commented onthe nervous and unprofessional approach of the top-order. Why the early,inconsistent aggression? Why the crazy running between the stumps? Why doesSachin continue to flop at the Oval? And finally, where's Sunil when (she) needed him ? :) Bottom line from my end was that India were simply not ready for prime time. Why, after so many mini and major tournaments in the years in between, the Cup tourneys shall have to be soberly dissected by people in a better place to judge Like the Windies, I believe the problem seems to lie in the collective 'head', and not in the ability of the team (let us not forget that the bowlers and fielders werelargely on point) and that shall require coaching of a kind that cannot beeasily attacked. In the increasingly competitive world of professional sport, this intangible but key aspect to performance is becoming the final area of required development to ensure continued focus and application. I can only hope that the Indian authorities share my view-point and see the exit as an instruction and not an indictment.
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