Predicting anything in life is dangerous but given the way the India-Pakistan clash on Sunday went, predicting anything in cricket seems even worse. I had predicted an easy win for India in what was a crucial clash and an easy win it turned out to be, but for Pakistan and not India.
Well, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and there is nothing more uncertain in the game than Pakistan's showing on any given day and that is something I should have kept in mind before making any predictions.
What a performance Pakistan put out. Everything they did turned into gold, especially the promotion of Shoaib Malik.
Inzamam, despite criticism from some of his former teammates, stuck to batting Mailk at number three and the young man delivered in style.
Of course, it can be said - and with full justification - that India had asked for trouble when they turned up for the tournament without a reserve batsman. They paid for it dearly for the second match in succession and I only hope it doesn't cost them the tournament.
However, there was one gain for the Indians from the enforced six batsmen/five bowlers combination.
{{/usCountry}}However, there was one gain for the Indians from the enforced six batsmen/five bowlers combination.
{{/usCountry}}While I fully agree that filling the playing eleven with seven batsmen has paid off quite handsomely, the Indian team management at some point will have to opt for a more balanced side. And since that can happen only if a genuine all-rounder turns up, the brave batting act of Irfan Pathan was most heartening. I genuinely believe that this young man has the potential to become an all-rounder and I think he made a good start towards that end on Sunday night.
Where the Indians missed a trick was in not using their part-time bowlers more. With Balaji and Nehra going for so many runs, Ganguly should have turned to Sehwag and Yuvraj and forgone the second spell Balaji at least.
If, despite having five regular bowlers, Sachin can be called upon to bowl the final overs, the others could have been tried too. The ability to be flexible and play it as the situation demands, is the key.
The manner in which the Indians went about their chase was also disappointing. Agreed that they had a very bad day at the office until then, with the poor fielding matching the wayward bowling but this Indian team has become famous for its fighting qualities with the bat and that I felt went missing.
Ganguly's approach was refreshing and his fall was unfortunate but the others should have concentrated on building partnerships. Somehow the attitude was wrong.
Here I am not taking away anything from the Pakistani bowlers. They bowled very well and complemented the efforts of their batsmen. But Pakistan's fate now lies in the hands of hosts Lanka.
For the Indians, it is a do or die situation. They have to play with a positive attitude for sure. Also a seventh batsman - whether it be Laxman or his replacement if any - must play, with one of the seamers, preferably Balaji, making way.