GWALIOR, 28 October 2003 — India’s win over Australia at Gwalior will hopefully exorcise the ghosts of the 2003 World Cup, where their only losses and that too crushing ones were against Australia. Cricket is so much a mental game that there is no doubt, which if Australia had overhauled India’s huge score of 284 the scars would have remained perhaps forever. It would have been the same scenario as at Sharjah, where India have never looked like beating Pakistan in the finals after Javed Miandad hit the six off the last ball when Pakistan needed 4 to win. India have never recovered from that and though they beat Pakistan comfortably at other venues, especially at World Cups they somehow flunk it when it comes to playing the traditional rivals in Sharjah.
Before that six by Miandad, India used to beat Pakistan regularly at Sharjah but after that they have lost from strong positions as Pakistan began to believe more than India that come what may they would emerge victorious. If India had scored 200 and lost to Australia at Gwalior it would not have made that much of a difference, but if they had lost after compiling a challenging 284, then it could have been disastrous mentally, especially as Australia are without their four frontline bowlers. How much the Australians missed them was evident soon enough as Tendulkar and Laxman put on a double century partnership with some superb stroke play. Laxman is a batsman the Australians rate and respect as his record against them is tops. There are some teams a player thrives against and for VVS it is Australia. It is never easy to match the little champion when he is in full flow but VVS not only did it but on more than one occasion had his partner applauding from the other end at the classy strokes that he unfurled. Australia’s attack did look a bit thin on the batting paradise that the Gwalior wicket was.
Brad Hogg impressed and even the Indians who are masters at playing spin had a bit of difficulty in picking him. Tendulkar’s 35th limited overs century and Laxman’s 2nd were magnificent efforts and though there was the odd comment about them slowing down as they neared their tons, this came mainly from people who have not scored a century even in ‘galli cricket’ and who have no clue what a century is about.
It is virtually impossible to score at a run a ball for once the field is spread out the boundaries become rare and so the scoring rate drops down. The promotion of Yuvraj Singh and Agarkar was a great move and Dravid looked much more relaxed and comfortable with the captaincy than he has so far. It didn’t take too long for Gilchrist and Hayden to show their appreciation of the pitch and their response to whatever Dravid threw at them was simply electric and sparkling in keeping with the festive season. Kumble brought some sanity to the proceedings and Harbhajan too wasn’t too far behind though his show of temper when Patel messed a stumping opportunity does not help the ‘team spirit’ which is mouthed so often these days.
Zaheer came back strongly to pick up three wickets and with Sehwag snaring the middle order with his innocuous looking bowling the Indians pulled back a game that was going out of their hand. As the game went on, the ball started to keep low which is usual in India and where spinners like Sehwag and Tendulkar come in handy.
The victory was well earned, and will give the Indians enormous self-confidence, and came on the first day of the Hindu New Year and thus is even more auspicious. The day though was tinged with sadness at the passing away of Lt. Col. Hemu Adhikari who was not only India’s captain but also the first ever coach of an Indian team. He taught us discipline not only off the field but more importantly on the field, and that’s exactly the kind of cricket the Indians played at Gwalior. It was the perfect tribute to a cricketer who gave so much to Indian cricket. Well done Rahul and Co.
