Indians favourites for the final
In what can only be described as an inspired performance, the Indians under Sourav Ganguly produced champagne cricket to trounce the South Africans at the Nairobi Gymkhana yesterday.
Like most Indians, this writer has been a loyal admirer of the Indian vice captain, but called for his head before the semifinal, frustrated by his inability to break free of his self-imposed shackles. With his brilliant batting display, Rahul Dravid administered one a resounding slap in the face, a pleasurable one all the same, as it came at a time when India badly needed him to move into top gear at his crucial one-drop spot.
The captain was a revelation. He kept a cool head throughout a masterly innings in which he must have destroyed every theory the South Africans had conceived in an unsuccessful effort to contain him. Peerless in offside play as ever, the prince of Calcutta played some electrifying shots on the onside as well, hitting some towering sixes in the process.
Zaheer Khan continues to bowl with confidence and commonsense, vital attributes at this level and in this type of cricket. Yuvraj Singh gladdened Indian hearts by strolling out almost contemptuously to Allan Donald and swatting him as if he were a bowler of military medium pace. Donald won't forget the slight in a hurry as he indicated with a nasty bouncer that nearly felled the young left-hander.
What was most heartening about the Indian performance was the obvious esprit de corps in evidence, the joy and delight of collective endeavour that distinguished this side from many others before. Sachin Tendulkar for one was over the moon with his side's performance, proving once again what a fine team person he is, especially when he is playing under someone else. There was much shared pleasure in one another's achievements and the newest recruits felt free to run up to and embrace the seniormost.
And what of the morrow? All of us know that this New Zealand side cannot be taken lightly. It has a highly professional attack that knows its limitations just as much as it is aware of its strengths. It fields well and throws consistently. Its batsmen bring a lot of experience to this game, Roger Twose outstanding in his anchor role, Craig McMillan, inventive and courageous, and Nathan Astle spectacular when on song. There is depth too in the batting, and much cohesiveness under the seemingly laidback leadership of Stephen Fleming. There is absolutely no room for complacency against an opponent as committed as New Zealand for all their lack of superstars and despite the absence of Chris Cairns. Remember what the Kiwis did to us in the World Cup.
In the final analysis, if the luck of the toss favours India and Ganguly's men keep their wits about them, they should come back with the ICC Cup. And what a turnaround that will be in India's cricket fortunes!
