Thursday, January 12, 2006
India v/s Pakistan: Battle Royale
Any event between India and Pakistan generates quite a lot of interest among people, be it hockey or football or kabaddi or cricket. To put cricket along with other sports will be blasephemous to the fans because unlike other sports cricket in the subcontinent has a ‘divine’ presence in the minds of people. The matches seem to have taken the form of battles of olden times – when best fighters of opposing armies fight it out rather than shedding many blood of many.
It’s not Just Another Series. An India Pakistan series is built on dreams of nearly one-third of world’s population. In India the euphoria over Ganguly’s selection to the Indian team has not died out. All eyes are on Indian camp to give its final eleven while Pakistan, bubbling with confidence, has already given their final team, and what a strong team. After their fine win over England, Pakistan is all set and rearing to have a go at India with their 100 mph boulders. Indian eleven is a fix except for opener slot – opening partner to Sehwag – Gambhir or Jaffer or Pathan (if Pathan opens then Ganguly might find a place in the team), others Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Agarkar, Kumble, Harbajhan and Pathan all will most likely figure in the final eleven. Inzi has matured as a captain, having the same kind of effect Ponting (who is my fav) or Dravid has on the team. The Pakistan team feels secure with Inzi around as he has lead his team from front, revising many results placed on table before the final ball has been bowled.
Pitch review and pre-match conference has made it clear that pitch will be good for all, and hopefully will stay good for rest of the series. Less grass on pitch is good news or bad news for India only time can tell. Players to watch – Inzi, Akthar, Rana, Naved in Pakistan side and India – well whole of its batting lineup, anyone can be a winner in the top five. The pitch might reverse swing, this is one factor that just dip the scales into Pakistan’s side.
With both teams evenly matched, better matched than last time, this would be one hell of a series!!
As usual with any world cup (be it ICC or FIFA) and an India-Pakistan match, this one is also going to be in middle of my exam season @#$
Prediction: India wins the series.
// posted by Rajasekhar @ 8:39 AM 
