June 7, 1999
|
|
|
|
ON THE BALL The Mind Game Once the Indians start believing in themselves they are a different proposition and can beat anybody. By Kapil Dev
This World Cup is heading in a different direction from the one all of us anticipated. Australia, tipped as one of the favourites, were struggling to qualify, as were India. The Aussie big names like Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann and Glenn McGrath were not able to put their act together. Only South Africa have shown capability and strength in every department. All their players have been chipping in for the team's cause. I must say Pakistan is a much improved team. But really Australia have surprised me. Despite being an able and experienced side, their showing has been exceptionally poor. This is why I say that playing cricket in England is a different ball game altogether. You never know what is going to happen until the very last ball is bowled. After nearly two weeks of play only four centuries had been scored -- that too all by Indians. Prior to Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly's record 318 against Sri Lanka, Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid had pulverised the Kenyan bowling. That speaks volumes about the cricket being played here compared to the subcontinent. Batting sides had the advantage of only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the first 15 overs, yet were finding it difficult to score 60 runs during that period. The moving ball was one problem but the technique was also to be faulted. Those who arrived with big reputations, like Adam Gilchrist and Sanath Jayasuriya, didn't have the patience and the drive to negotiate the new ball. Australia, Sri Lanka and India -- initially -- did disappoint everyone. India, though, recovered after the early setbacks. A win is a win whoever it may be against and winning against Kenya gave the team the necessary boost. Again Sachin showed why he is a great player. He flew straight into the match after the demise of his father and went on to make a superb hundred. He managed to leave his personal ordeal behind him and played like a champ. On the other hand, our bowlers don't seem to be bowling to their full capability. Ajit Agarkar, especially, has been a bit of a let down. I get the feeling he is trying to prove something. I sincerely feel he should concentrate on line and length rather than speed. Speed is not going to get you what accuracy can. Once they begin to believe in themselves, the Indian team is a different proposition altogether. As they proved against Kenya and Sri Lanka, they have the talent and the experience to hammer out wins. In a positive frame of mind they will beat anybody. Whatever the outcome of this tournament, the brilliant centuries by Sachin, Rahul and Saurav will forever be etched in the minds of all cricket lovers across the globe. Isn't it amazing that we play dream matches like the one against Sri Lanka and nightmarish ones like the one against Zimbabwe? And to think it is the same team which played them! Former India captain and allrounder
Kapil Dev will be writing a regular column exclusively for |
|
Issue Contents | Write to us | Subscriptions | Syndication BUSINESS TODAY | INDIA TODAY PLUS | COMPUTERS TODAY © Living Media India Ltd |
 |
 |
My heartiest congratulations
to Saurav Ganguly for breaking my record of 175 not out in the match against Sri Lanka. I
was hoping that Rahul Dravid would reach there too but he got out after playing an
excellent innings. Anyway, the world record stand the two put together was a joy to watch.
Both played a neat game. It's innings like these which make one wonder whether batsmen
need to slog at all. No doubt they got a couple of chances but they kept their cool and
complemented each other perfectly. Some people did feel that it was a small ground but
those sixes would have crossed any field. 
