India must not panic over Mumbai loss
India's reversal at Wankhede should be followed by a precise postmortem, but it shouldn't trigger a witch-hunt, says Sandeep Dwivedi in the Indian Express
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
India's reversal at Wankhede should be followed by a precise postmortem, but it shouldn't trigger a witch-hunt, says Sandeep Dwivedi in the Indian Express.
[In Ahmedabad] Ojha and Ashwin were too hard to handle for the English. Then, Dhoni had plan number 2. With England on the ropes, Dhoni was uncoiling the knock-out punch. So for the second Test, Dhoni attempted the old trick and ordered the good old carpet to be brought out. It was the one on which the English men had so famously slipped in 1993. Back then, the spinners Anil Kumble, Venkatapathy Raju and Rajesh Chauhan had helped India register a 3-0 win over the Graham Gooch-led side. This time, Dhoni anticipated the same from Ojha, Ashwin and Harbhajan.
With scores levelled at 1-1, Dhoni would be worried but wiser. The bounce and turn had worked for Kumble and Co., but not for the present day spin-trio. Besides, the batting line-up didn't have many like Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, who could handle the turning ball on a tricky track in the second innings. In the Tests ahead, Dhoni will have to figure out a new template for his talented bowlers and promising batsmen. And for that he needs to be at the helm, despite the losses, and the likes of Ojha and Ashwin in the squad. Calm and continuity can see India emerge from the crisis that usually occurs during periods of transition.