The decision of promoting Rahul Dravid to open the innings came as a
sort of a bolt from the blue at a time when the middle order needed to
retain all the strength it could muster intact. Dravid went on to be
the top scorer in the innings but still the move does not somehow
convince one and all. Sourav Ganguly can be appreciated for going down
the order but the shuffle in the batting order was not all that
imperative. Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly have been very successful at
the top over the years and to break that combination may raise more
questions than it could solve. With Tendulkar getting a hundred in the
previous match and Ganguly performing so well at Nairobi it was
incomprehensible why the combination was dislodged.
Ganguly's strategy of wanting to go after the spinners in the middle
order himself is alright but for one accustomed to opening the innings
it will not be that easy to tonk the ball out of the park immediately
on arrival at the crease. The left and right combination has made it
difficult for the bowlers across the globe and that was one of the
prime factors for their success. It may be well a case of trying to
get Dravid to break the shackles by making him open. Dravid made the
most of the opportunity by playing a substantial knock but it remains
to be seen as to how long this move will be continued.
As to their encounter against Zimbabwe, it was a tight finish with the
Indians really having to work hard for their triumph. Guy Whitall
dropped Tendulkar in the first over before Streak had him caught at
the wicket. Dravid started off in his usual cautious manner and with
the wickets falling regularly, he had to direct the course of the
innings, which he did until he got out. Vinod Kambli has promised much
in every innings so far after his comeback but has not gone on to
fulfil the same. Travis Friend, the young medium pacer was lively and
was easily the best Zimbabwean bowler on view. His gestures to the
umpire also indicated that he is not kept himself abreast with the
latest amendments in the laws of the game.
Yuvraj Singh made a useful contribution and his partnership with
Dravid was the onset of the Indian hustle in the innings. He was the
second batsmen to be dismissed going far too across after Ganguly was
caught down the leg side. Robin Singh was unfortunate to be run out as
the ball deflected off the bowler's hand and his departure meant that
the Indian tail had to wag, and wag well, to put up a more than
fighting total on the board. Much to the delight of everyone, the
tailenders made use of every scoring opportunity with Vijay Dahiya
playing the dominant role.
Though the Indians had enough runs on the board and got a couple of
early wickets, the Zimbabweans made a fantastic fightback with Stuart
Carlisle and Andy Flower putting the Indian bowlers to the sword.
Flower is in ominous form and his wicket was required for the Indians
to get back into the game. As usual it was Tendulkar who provided the
breakthrough when a top-edged sweep from Flower found Joshi with
unerring precision. The middle order batsmen of Zimbabwe did not
surrender meekly, contrary to expectations and finally fell short by
the much-dreaded number-13 runs.
Zimbabwe has lost both the games it has played so far and they have to
win in order to stay in the tournament. India meets Zimbabwe again the
next time around in the round robin stage and a victory would ensure
the Indians a place in the final. The Indians somehow have to get the
right formula in order not to falter at the crucial juncture.