Jan. 11: The comforting presence of Sachin Tendulkar in the side, otherwise filled to the brim with youngsters with little or no experience of the South African conditions adds we-ight to India’s hopes of clinching their first-ever one-day series in this country.
The last time Tendulkar played a one-dayer — on February 2010 in Gwalior, incidentally against South Africa — he had produced the ultimate ODI innings, breaching the double ton barrier. His 200 not out had given India a 153-run victory then, and the Proteas won’t be completely honest if they said the thought of that knock hadn’t crossed their minds ahead of Wednesday’s day-nighter against the visitors at Kingsmead here — the first of five-match ODI series.
But it’s not that knock, but what he had done four years ago in Durban that is more relevant in the current scenario and conditions. India were walloped 0-4 by Graeme Smith’s men in 2006.
In the second ODI at the Kingsmead after the Proteas had racked up 248 in 50 overs, India were dismissed for 91 on a lively pitch with loads of bounce and seam movement — their lowest score against the South Africans. Tendulkar, however, had contributed 35 of it, batting for 80 minutes against the fired-up pace attack of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini.
Now with an attritional and hard-fought Test series robbing Dhoni of key players like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Tendulkar would be required to do the same at the top against Dale Steyn and Co. and ensure that youngsters lower down the order have a relatively easier trial later in the innings.
Depending on one individual is a move fraught with danger and Dhoni found out the hard way in the first Test against South Africa when Zaheer Khan suffered an injury at the eleventh hour.
Youngsters like Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli are in incredible touch, having helped India overwhelm New Zealand 5-0 in a recent one-day series back home, and there’s no reason why they cannot continue the rich vein of form. But the South African pitches are different from the flat Indian ones, and one bad shot can lead to quick dismissal. A couple more and confidence can take a hit.
That’s the last thing India would want before the World Cup in the sub-continent beginning next month.