Almost all outstanding teams in the game's history have had one or twoall-rounders

© CricInfo Clinching the series via the short route against this sadly emaciated West Indian side was always on the cards and while congratulations are in order for Sourav Ganguly and his men for wrapping up the series in double quick time, there

It was obvious that much would depend on how Kallicharran got the bestout of his depleted side

By the late sixties and early seventies, the great West Indian side of the decade had broken up, but by 1974, the rebuilding process had been completed, and it was a strong and confident side that came to India during the winter

From an Indian viewpoint there was one inescapable conclusion driven home by events in the ICC Champions Trophy

Believe me - this Indian cricket team can walk on water

Is there still any doubt that the Indian batting line-up is the most explosive, the most attractive in world cricket today

© Reuters It is important that the performance of the Indian team in their ICC Champions Trophy opening game against Zimbabwe be viewed with sympathy

The quarterfinals were marked by three one-sided results but thepulsating Australia-India game made up for this

One more major factor has to be kept in mind while analysing India'schances and that is that they are in a group in which no team is apushover

Evolved as part of the International Cricket Council's globalisation scheme, the ICC Champions Trophy - or the mini World Cup - has proved to be a resounding success both from the financial and cricketing viewpoints

© CricInfo Given India's abysmal record abroad, especially in England, a shared Test series can be rated as a moral victory and congratulations would seem to be in order for Sourav Ganguly and his men, more so when the balance sheet includes the

It is important that the ICC, the BCCI and the other boards, and theplayers do not think in terms of victory or defeat, of having scored apoint or two

The sudden departure of Sidhu- the most senior member of the touringparty, having made his Test debut in 1983 - put a big question markover the vital opening slot

© CricInfo Ever since Manoj Prabhakar was suddenly axed following an indifferent World Cup in 1996, there has been a crying need for an all-rounder in Indian cricket

Speaking of crucial moments, India came good everytime there was a crisis

Few, however, could have bargained for what was instore

From here on, however there was a suddentransformation

The Botham-Kapil duel reached a stirring climax in the third Test at the Oval

For many years, the zing was indeed very much in evidence