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India vs Pakistan: Just another game!
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World Cup 2011 -
World Cup 2011
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Tuesday, 29 March 2011 22:51 |
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Contributed by Yogesh Gandhi
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(4826 views) |
Shocked when I say that? Now if you think that I am completely naive and have absolutely no clue of what India-Pakistan game means, then you could be as right as Sidhu is in his post-match analysis. Or wrong. Depending on which way you look at it.
For reasons well known, when these two nations face to face on the Cricket field, it is more than just a game! If it was just the game, then explain all that security cover to me. Explain the Cricket induced (I would want to use the word seduced, but we will stay away from that for the time being!) diplomacy. Besides the relationship between these two nations is a mix of subjects that students of all age dread- some geography and a lot of history.
So while we may want it to be pure Cricket on the Cricket field, a lot of that excess baggage comes into play, wittingly or unwittingly. It fires some up, while some find it too hot to handle.
The game played tomorrow will be much beyond Cricketing logic and logistics. It will be a battle of wits. The battle may not be all that pretty though. For all those who expect a night of firecrackers may well have to settle for a battle that is more of a grind and less of a spectacle. Such has been the uncertainty surrounding the pitch and the team combinations that it’s hard to hazard a guess on what probable strategies will be.
Truth is, irrespective of pitch conditions, Pakistan has a good enough attack to stall the Indian batting line-up. The other truth is, irrespective of how the pitch behaves and however hard Pakistani bowlers may run in, India has the batting might to conquer all odds. Pakistan’s batting line-up is just as adequate (or inadequate) as the Indian bowling unit. But these weaknesses have done just about enough to compliment the strengths of each side.
Sum total, it will take a really brave man to make any sort of guess. But an intelligent man will tell you that when everything seems equal, it is the X factor that makes a difference. For me that X factor is not the temperamental edge of Pakis or brawn of Indian batting, it will be the ability to keep things simple. The team that plays the game of Cricket, on its merit, without clouding the mind with an iota of all that surrounds it, will come up trumps.
While Pakistanis have gelled together surprisingly well, one can never negate the possibility of frailed nerves of this team, what with pressure on it from its own government. The Indian team is led by an absolutely cool head in Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It will help to have several rational and reasonable minds like Sachin, Dhoni, Gambhir, and Zaheer in the team. The focus will be to keep up the intensity till the opposition starts cracking. One crack can open the floodgates for India. When he crouches behind the stumps, Dhoni will be first to notice that. And if he does that Pakistan, trust me, will have no way to get back into the game.
Let the battle begin. The wind is heavy, it’s in your face, and we are watching the eyes boys. Come tomorrow, and we will know who winks first.
PS: India- SL looks like just the contest that a final of this gripping World Cup deserves.
!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."
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