By Gaurang
December 9 2013

Just a few short months ago, India were smashing the hapless Australians, including the newest Fast Bowling Beast, Mitchel Johnson, all over the park on flat, and low bouncing wickets in India.  A week into the tour of South Africa and the Indian batting line up looks as brittle as glass. 

Of course the scheduling has not helped with India going against a battle hardened South Africa, who just lost a series to Pakistan, taking on India who arrived just days before the first game and with absolutely no practice in the middle on fast, bouncy wickets.  The result was predictable.  Dhoni a past past master of making a non-excuse excuse has clearly indicated that the scheduling was a major factor in his team's poor performance.  But in the past he has used excuses such as having to "carry" seniors also.  On that front he is completely out of excuses.  The team he has now is HIS team.  Not a single batsman from the Ganguly era has survived, now that Yuvraj has been dropped. 

And btw, the Seniors he used to make such snide comments about Ganguly and Dravid averaged 45 and 50 respectively in ODIs IN South Africa.  I am sure he would give his right arm to have players with the GUTS and HEART of these two in the team right now.

South Africa is a hard place to play cricket if you are mentally weak.  If you are mentally strong, it is great, as the bounce facilitates stroke making and the outfields are billiard table smooth and lightening quick.  Dhoni may have an awesome record as Indian Captain at home, but once he leaves the cozy confines of home his record as leader is much more mediocre.  In the past his personal weakness against the moving ball overseas has been a factor.  This time he has improved his ability to combat that and has led from the front, albeit within the limitations of his abilities as a batsman.  Where he has failed miserably is to inspire his wards to fight fire with fire and not take a backward step as they have been subjected to a fearful pounding both with bat and ball.

For example during the first ODI in Jo'burg when the Indian pacers were getting smashed all around the park, barely a peep was heard from the Captain behind the stumps...or from other fielders for that matter.  One hopes that behind the scene he is pushing his men hard to stand up and fight.  In a short series, even letting a single opportunity pass is inviting defeat.  Already India have lost the three match ODI series, and they must play for pride and to get acclimatized for the much bigger and more significant examination awaiting them in the two Test matches. 

The next ODI though meaningless in the context of the series, has huge significance in terms of whether India come back with some pride restored or return humiliated by their 9th and 10th consecutive Test defeats outside India. 

Dhoni and Co. Turn From Tigers To Kittens

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 09/12/2013 19:34

Indian Cricket Fever
09/12/2013 19:34

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:12:23:19:03:49 by Birbal.

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shilpa
10/12/2013 20:18

however good they might be....they need time to practise / accilimitize.

it's BCCI's fault who havew shoved them into a difficult series with zero practise time.

and complete mayhem results on the field

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Birbal
12/12/2013 03:16

Seems a convenient excuse to blame the scheduling...

Btw, it seems you need a combination of technique and heart to succeed in South Africa...

Sehwag had lots of heart... poor technique... averaged 15 in ODIs in SA..

Dravid had lots of heart...excellent technique...averaged 50 in ODIs in SA

Ganguly averaged 45... Sachin 25....

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Meet_New_Mr_India
23/12/2013 17:25

I think this thread needs to be deleted in the light of whole hearted tiger like performance against a team that has 2 (#1 and #2)bowlers in test top 10 and 3(#1,#2 and #10) batsmen in top 10.

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Birbal
23/12/2013 19:03

Hahaha... they certainly MORPHED back into Tigers...

I guess I'll unsticky it, if not delete it

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Birbal
30/01/2014 17:57

The series defeat in the ODIs in NZ confirms that India are Tigers at home... pussycats overseas....

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rahul_dravid_2010
31/01/2014 01:53

I wouldn't they India are pussycats overseas. They are pussycats when the conditions are not conducive.

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Meet_New_Mr_India
31/01/2014 02:23

^ i think that is true for any team - England were same in Australia.. hell they disintegrated.. Aussies when they visited us were same..

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Birbal
31/01/2014 06:03

Makes one nostalgic for ODI openers like Ganguly and Tendulkar...

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