Regardless of the outcome of the two remaining one-day international matches that India are to play in South Africa, the team named for the forthcoming World Cup is already proving a point. Even minus four regulars — Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Praveen Kumar, all of whom had to quit the touring party with injuries — Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s depleted squad have more than held their own in these last few matches ahead of the quadrennial event which kicks off in Dhaka in just under a month’s time. Expectedly, there was something of a shindy when the 15-member team was announced earlier this week, especially with regard to the inclusion of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who has interestingly never played an ODI on home soil. With the likes of batsmen Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa and fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Shantakumaran Sreesanth being kept out, the logic of Chawla’s inclusion was a little hard to understand, particularly when the selectors have included just four fast bowlers in Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Praveen for a tournament that will run for all of 43 days. Not only has the lack of cover for injuries to the quicks been something of a gamble, the other exposed card is the skipper as the only wicketkeeper in the squad.
At the same time, the selectorial options were severely limited given that each country can nominate only 15 players, which meant that a certain amount of trimming and compromise on options and combinations would take place. It is in this light that the raised eyebrows over a third spinner were entirely understandable. With Yusuf Pathan all but cementing the key number seven slot in the lineup as the all-rounder after two spectacular innings in as many games — one in India and the second many weeks later in South Africa — India already have five bowlers in any playing XI they would care to field. Add the occasional contributions from Yuvraj Singh, Sehwag (if fit), Suresh Raina and Tendulkar, and it gives Dhoni a full deck to play from, especially on the lower and slower pitches of the sub-continent. All this, however, is 28 days in the future.
For the moment, the manner in which the Indians are going on South African pitches has been an eye-opener, not just for Graeme Smith and his men, but for millions of Indian fans as well. In the 19-odd years since India first toured South Africa, they had won just three matches in all. This time, they have already won two, and in succession. Minus some key stalwarts, it was felt that the best this side would do is manage to take the odd match off the Proteas, but the way in which the Men in Blue have shown resolve, grit and fighting spirit has left their opponents gaping in shock. Twice in as many games, South Africa lost — in extremely familiar and helpful conditions — from positions they had no business to do so, The fact of the matter is that this lot of Indians have discovered steel in themselves few believed existed in them. Add to this combination the talents and abilities of the injured four and you get what can only be described as a formidable team, and one that is at last well-equipped to regain the World Cup. Fronting a varied attack is a batting lineup that will have a few opponents quivering and if Tendulkar expectedly links up with Sehwag at the top of the order, it will form what is quite easily the most devastating pairing in the tournament. Down the line, the rest will be equally keen to strut their stuff, all of which makes for uncomfortable anticipation for the rest of the World Cup field.