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A new era begins in Indian cricket
Dravid will be expected to play a big part in the ODI series against Lanka starting today, writes Akshay Sawai.
A son-in-law is normally fed a feast. On Tuesday, he will be expected to dish out one.
A big contribution will be desired of Rahul Dravid as he leads a wobbly India against a positive Sri Lanka in the first Videocon Cup one-day international on Tuesday. It will be the first time that the 32-year-old will be playing as captain in wife Vijeta's hometown. It will also be the first time that he plays before his newborn son, Samit (though all the infant can perhaps think of right now is his next Farex fix and maybe a cool, low-waist, distress-denim diaper).
Of course, these are details that will only be in the inner compartment of Dravid's mind. Out there on the ground, it is the Indian cricket baby that he, as captain, will be preoccupied with. Especially given the fact that it has spent most of its recent time wailing.
Lack of form, injuries to star players and controversy has shoved India, who left opener Gautam Gambhir and speedster RP Singh out of the 13 on Monday, to the back rows of World cricket. The team is No. 7 in the One-day rankings, five spots behind Sri Lanka. The last time the two nations met - on the exacting wickets of the Emerald Island in the triangular in July-August, India were pancaked.
The dressing rooms have changed and it is Sri Lanka who are visitors now. But they remain strong, the last-ball, three-wicket defeat against Mumbai in the tour opener notwithstanding. Lanka's top order may not have been at its best of late, but they have a tail that, as Farveez Maharoof proved against the MCA XI with a sizzling 64 not out, can lash (we are talking about a country with a lot of crocodiles, after all).
"We have depth, we have many good allrounders," Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody said after net practice on Monday. "That can make the difference."
Skipper Marvan Atapattu sounded confident too. "We have dominated India in Sri Lanka and want to do it on their soil as well," he said.
Sri Lanka have beaten India 19 times in 33 matches at home, losing only nine of those games. But on Indian turf, India have won 17 of the 26 matches between them and lost eight. That said, the two sides have not played an ODI in India since March 1999. Overall, India and Sri Lanka have played 82 ODIs. Of these, 41 have gone India's way, 34 Lanka's. If Moody acknowledged the depth in the Sri Lankan team, which was irked by a delay in their flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Sunday, Chappell did it with regard to India. However, he spoke about it in connection with the future and not specifically Tuesday's match. "We have found some utility players who are important in One-day cricket," Chappell said.
Atapattu said the ever dangerous but injured veteran, Sanath Jayasuriya, looked "okay" enough to play. Jayasuriya, 36, had collided against the team physio during a water-polo game in Sri Lanka and dislocated his right shoulder. He had retired after an entertaining 34 against MCA XI.
The good news for India is the presence of Virender Sehwag, Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar, nursing a tennis elbow all these days, had only an x-ray series. All three will be ravenous for runs. Tendulkar and Sehwag are expected to open in a game that also affords Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni a chance to flaunt their chutzpah.
"Sachin and Sehwag are great openers and well-suited for the job," said Dravid, adding that he was looking forward to playing in a place he loved.
The pitch is voluptuous with run-making opportunity (bad luck for S Sree santh). VCA president Shashank Manohar and curator Kishore Pradhan have done away with the greenery that the Nagpur pitch was famous for. While a 275-plus score for the team batting first is within reach, the wicket, Dravid said, will turn as the match warms up.
