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India need a new slogan!
The last time India did well was in the 2003 World Cup when the 'Now or Never' jingle resurrected the team, writes Sunit Kaul.
Team India is in a definite need for a new slogan! The last time the team did well was during the 2003 World Cup when the 'Now or Never' jingle resurrected the team.
With India's fortunes dramatically dropping now, it's high time for the BCCI to seriously contemplate hiring a 'motto-contributor' as a support staff!
What lays more weight to this proposal is the fact that team coach Greg Chappell's radical 'lateral-thinking' stuff apparently isn't working out.
Seeing India's recent debacle in the Lanka Tri-series, one surely feels for him though. He is most certainly employed in the toughest job in this profession and is working under a lot of stress.
That anxiety is going to increase even further, if his side doles out another lean performance in Zimbabwe ODI Series for the cricket lovers.
The Men-in-Blue have had the upper hand in most of the occasions against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. But with the team's current showing one can never be certain.
The squad's present successes have become so rare that one, almost unconsciously, keeps recollecting the few that have happened over and over. With time, an artificial aura of triumph is built around the team. But in reality, when the situation demands no batsman delivers, ever!
Only Rahul Dravid (who has a class of his own) is the only consistent player in the bunch of 11 disappointments. No wonder we are no.7 in the latest ICC ratings!
Seeing the trend, the Kiwis will be the front-runners for the cup, if not the clear favourites. They, as against India, are riding on some incredible performances seen over the last month.
They thoroughly humiliated the hosts in both the Test matches, winning the first within two days and the second within three. Besides, their batters and bowlers seem to be peaking at the right time. Nathan Astle is approaching the tri-series with a big ton in his bag, while the fiery Shane Bond is looking ever lethal.
The African minnows, Zimbabwe is going through a lean patch. But the hosts have the ability and the wherewithal to bounce back and spring a surprise.
Moreover, they are a lot more fatal in the shorter version of the game and have the reputation of bringing the mightiest of the opponents to its knees on their home turf.
As for Team India, the slogan for the triangular series should be: "Hope reigns supreme".
