The first rays of sunlight bring with it the hope of a new day, a new beginning and a new start to a life gone awry for a while. The Indian team, having had a nightmarish start to a new cricket season, hopes to wake up to a new dawn in Chennai, just the way it happened in Kolkata when the Australian team was here last time around in 2001.
But to recreate a magical moment and to hope that the past can replicate itself is perhaps, living too much in a world of dreams. In a celluloid world, a scriptwriter can create whatever he wants, but in this real world the Indians can only hope that the script of this match unfolds in the manner they want.
However, on the eve of the second Test, any signs of an Indian revival were obscured by confusion and uncertainty. The confusion of a team that is unsettled and not sure of its batting form and the uncertainty of a team that is not sure what kind of changes to make in the batting order so that once they're out there in the middle, the runs flow in their favour.
Unlike on Tuesday, the Chennai weather was back to its worst for most part of the morning. It was as humid as it could be and watching the Indians practice in that unkind weather (for the spectators at least) was not a very pleasant exercise. As uncertainty gives rise to speculation, so it was time to put two and two together and try to arrive at a correct figure.
Unlike on Tuesday, the Chennai weather was back to its worst for most part of the morning. It was as humid as it could be and watching the Indians practice in that unkind weather (for the spectators at least) was not a very pleasant exercise. As uncertainty gives rise to speculation, so it was time to put two and two together and try to arrive at a correct figure.
There were as many theories as the number of wise men around and everyone had his own take on what is going to be the team composition. Some said Parthiv Patel would open in place of Aakash Chopra, leaving room for Yuvraj to stay in the team and making it easier for Mohammed Kaif to re-enter the Test arena.
Probable but not true, was the reaction of those opposed to this move. Their take was that Yuvraj would open and Kaif would replace Chopra.
Well, if you think that was the end of it, you are wrong. There were those who believed that John Wright wants Chopra to stay in the team and Yuvraj to go out. Well, well, this is all getting too confusing for anyone's liking but what do you do if the Indian captain also adds to that confusion.
In the press conference he first said that there would be no change in the batting order. A minute later he said that Yuvraj could be promoted in the order, an may even open. But one common denominator in all these theories was Kaif name. He is in everyone's team, even in Ganguly's team --- he did say Kaif is likely to play.
If you ask a sane head, he would probably tell you don't fiddle with the top, leave it as it is, make Yuvraj sit out and bring in Kaif. Maybe easier said than done as Chopra has not inspired much confidence after his good performance in Australia and Yuvraj may be out of form but there is no doubting his talent.
Whatever the final Xl in the end --- by evening it was clear that Chopra would be dropped, Kaif would come in and Yuvraj would open. But this discussion clearly highlight the state of mind in the Indian camp. Their batting has flopped. Their top order is out of form and they are in search of that magic potion to restore their fortunes.
India need a big score in the first innings and to do that they need to sleep well on the eve of the Test and not be as confused and restless as a rat trapped in a cage. Let us hope this restlessness is that of a hungry lion's who is ready to pounce on his prey and is just waiting to be unchained.
Let an imaginative scriptwriter take over from here.