'I've enjoyed the challenge' - Dravid
It's been just 18 days since India crashed to their second-heaviest defeat in history but they have returned to Karachi with a far more upbeat mood
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Karachi
18-Feb-2006
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India's last one-dayer at the National Stadium, which they won, was a
mind-blowing contest. An almost unreal 693 runs were clattered in the game
with tension gripping the entire ground and it produced an almost-perfect
start to a much-awaited series. This now is a dead rubber, the first
between the two sides for nearly six years, and Rahul Dravid admitted
India would be keen on testing a few youngsters in different
positions.
"We will try out a few youngsters and try and give them a few new
challenges," he said, hinting that the likes of Suresh Raina and Ramesh
Powar might have a role to play. "We would like to win every game and this
one is no different. Raina played superbly in the last game and showed
what a phenomenal player he can be and it's important to give youngsters
different challenges. The only way you can get the best out of players is
by giving them chances under pressure. No point in being soft on them or
cocooning them. It doesn't get the best out of them."
Pakistan's last game here saw them rattle up 356 while batting first and
one can expect a run-fest for tomorrow's game as well. India will be keen
that Mohammad Kaif and Gautam Gambhir find their groove and help them end
the series on a high. Murali Kartik hasn't got a game since the opening
clash at Peshawar and he, along with Powar, might make up the spin-attack
tomorrow.
India's power-packed batting and tight bowling might have sealed the
series but one mustn't under-estimate the influence that Dravid's
captaincy has had throughout. Right from Peshawar, he has set innovative,
aggressive fields and Pakistan's top-order collapses have had as much to
do with their sloppiness as they have with Dravid's strangling tactics.
"I've enjoyed the challenge," he continued, "it's the first time overseas
and it's been a great experience. You have good days and you have bad days
and I've learnt that you can't do everything on your own."
The series began with most of the talk centering on the pitches, with
pancake-type surfaces being prepared for the first two Tests, but Dravid
felt that things had changed since. "We're happy with the wickets for the
one-dayers," he added, "and our bowlers have been able to land the ball in
the right areas. To restrict Pakistan to 265, 288 and 161 in the last
three games was a good effort. I think the groundsmen have done a great
job."
India started this series as second favourites, but like against Sri Lanka
and South Africa, showed how dangerous they can be just when the knives
are being sharpened. A triumphant finale in Karachi would be the icing at
the end of a long tour and make the journey back home that much
smoother.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo