Misfiring in the Caribbean

Trailing 2-1 after the first three games is something Rahul Dravid would not have been expecting. In all three games, India’s batting was below par, with the lower middle order failing to live up to expectations. India won the first game only because of an exceptional century from Dravid, and after he got out the lower order almost botched it up. The second match was a heart stopper and one was left at the end with the image of a crushed Yuvraj Singh squatting on his haunches and wincing with the pain of the loss. It was a wonderful piece of deception by Dwayne Bravo to outfox a batsman in the 90’s with a slower ball.

Even though one Indian batsman has played a big knock in each of three matches, Dravid, Yuvraj and Sehwag, the others have failed to carry on. The most alarming loss for the Indians was the third match, where there was a rash of run outs that bordered on the ridiculous which ruined a great platform setup by a Sehwag special. Once more it was a Bravo beauty that arrested the Indian charge by removing Sehwag. The batting following that dismissal seemed to indicate a lack of hunger for the win. But, this Indian team has fought back before and Dravid highlighted the team’s self belief by saying that they just have to win the next two games.

Irfan Pathan’s lack of form in both batting and bowling has been a contributing factor in the losses. He hasn’t been picking up early wickets and has been tonked about with disdain whereas his counterpart, the much less fancied left armer from the Caribbean, Ian Bradshaw, has been outperforming him with some intelligent bowling. Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar have been the outstanding bowlers for India, and are the main reason why the West Indian batting has been kept in check. Harbhajan has been bowling a tight line to Lara, with some wonderful flight and spin that troubled Lara in all three matches. Agarkar has stepped into the senior pro role, using his previous tour experience to put on a display of some wonderfully controlled swing bowling.

Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have been thwarting India’s bowling, and even with Chanderpaul out with a hamstring injury for the last two matches, India needs a plan to stop the in form Sarwan who is living up to his words of the need to be consistent. With two matches in three days in Trinidad, Dravid has to rejuvenate his misfiring batting lineup and inspire his team to yet another comeback.