By Gaurang
January 3 2006

In a few days time, Rahul Dravid will lead an Indian team across the border for what is undoubtedly the biggest and most passionate rivalry in cricket. The Indo-Pak matches make the Ashes, which may have a bit more history, look positively tepid in comparison. Some have suggested that after the self-imposed distance following India’s nuclear declaration, and Pakistan’s quick response, the two countries have been playing each other a bit too often, and that the rivalry is now a bit jaded. It is true that India and Pakistan have been playing each other at a frequency that if continued would de-value the contest, but so far the contest has not suffered.

India’s historic foray into Pakistan in 2003-04 lent legitimacy to Pakistan as a host for Test cricket post 9/11, after countries such as Australia, England and West Indies treated it like a pariah, and shifted matches to “neutral” venues like Sharjah and Sri Lanka. India’s visit also provided a badly needed boost to the nearly bankrupt PCB coffers. So much so, that Pakistan were finally able to hire a foreign coach. And Bob Woolmer has been on a mission to rebuild the team ever since.

Under the Captaincy of Sourav Ganguly and his then deputy Rahul Dravid, India won for the first time, an ODI, an ODI series, a Test match and a Test match series in Pakistan. So many firsts were achieved by Ganguly and his team that it is hard to see how it can be topped. Yet that is exactly what the Indian public wants and expects as Team India now under Rahul Dravid embarks on its second visit to Pakistan in the span of two years.

In between Pakistan visited India, and despite being without their mercurial but moody pace ace, Shoaib Akhtar, held India to a draw in the Tests and won the ODIs. Bob Woolmer shrewdly managed his resources, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, removed from the pressures of a home press and crowd, led his team from the front, in a quiet and dignified manner. Sourav Ganguly, on the other hand suffered a nightmare series. First his form with the bat deserted him, then he got in trouble with the match referee in regards to slow over rates, while at the same time battling with the authorities who once again pulled up one of his aces, Harbhajan Singh, for a suspect action.

The recent history of both teams also adds to the anticipation of this series. India have now re-grouped under Dravid and coach Greg Chappell, and seem to have found the winning formula again. They humbled Sri Lanka at home in both Tests and ODIs, though admittedly the Lankans are notoriously poor travelers and were hampered by injury and loss of form of some very key players. Pakistan meanwhile have just beaten England who were brought down to earth with a thud after their Ashes success. The English fans no doubt were surprised by the rude awakening their team got in Pakistan, but for the rest of the world it was not that surprising, considering the poor record that England have had in the subcontinent for the past several decades.

Anyway the upshot of this is that both teams are on a roll and have momentum behind them. Also both teams are as near fully fit as any team in cricket can ever be. Pakistan have Shoaib Akhtar back in the fold and bowling with not just high pace, but unsuspected intelligence. India have both their spinners back and in form and their batting line up is fully fit, with Tendulkar recovered from his tennis elbow, and the young and exciting Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the ever improving Irfan Pathan now adding depth to match Pakistan’s deep batting line up. The series should be be very exciting and results a sure thing unless the winter weather interferes and reduces playing time significantly.

Everything is set up beautifully for a showdown, that Danish Kaneria correctly called “The Mother of All Series”. On paper and according to the ICC table, India are clear favorites. They will be expected to win the series, though their fans will know that it will not be an easy task. What may make the difference are what the two coaches Bob Woolmer and Greg Chappell are able to bring to the table. Woolmer has shown he has a shrewd cricket brain, and that he plays his cards strategically. The way he utilized the dangerous, if somewhat dubious, Shabbir Ahmed to score first over England, before the umpires and match referees sent him packing, and then later used the versatile Shahid Afridi to further get under the Englishmen’s skin, showed a master tactician at work.

He has also been a vocal supporter of his team, and has lambasted the ICC appointed “neutral” umpires for having a pronounced bias against his team, while balancing that with a call for two neutral umpires in ODIs, where Pakistan are inherently stronger, and where umpiring bias is less of a factor. Woolmer has provided a strong binding presence and professional but friendly, almost avuncular presence in the Pakistani dressing room. One feels that with the natural talent that has always been the hallmark of Pakistani cricket, coupled with the professionalism instilled by Woolmer, India will have to play out of their skins to keep the cup.

Under Greg Chappell, India too have made improvements in key areas, most notably fielding and late order batting. But there are several areas where the jury is still out on his impact on Team India.

He has courted a much higher public profile than his predecessor John Wright or even his opposite number Bob Woolmer. During his brief time so far, he has been involved in a much publicized spat with one of the most senior members of the team. He has been caught up in a couple of unsavory incidents where he disrespected some Indian fans and even members of the media. He has also been caught saying things that later were found to be untrue about members of the team, and then backtracked to keep his job. This has raised some disturbing questions on his temperament under pressure, a weakness one could discern even decades ago when he asked his brother to bowl underarm the last delivery of a close ODI to ensure his team could not lose.

Fortunately for him and for India, the team has played mostly weak or declining teams and home games so far. It has been as easy a period for a new coach to transition as one can hope for. But now the true test begins, and one will have to see if his iron-fisted approach will lead to better performances by the Indians, or to a breakdown under pressure -- and there will be immense pressure -- similar to that during the only other coaching stint he has been through in Australian domestic cricket.

Truly for Team India, but especially for Dravid and Chappell, this will be the acid test.