As I write this piece, I must admit that there are multiple feelings going through my mind. Disappointment and dejection (as an Indian fan) certainly tops them all, but some kind of satisfaction comes through as the people who I have bothered to know (Rahul Dravid, Y Venugopala Rao, Russel Arnold) in my brief stint as a cricket scribe played their small little part successfully in the first ODI at Dambulla.
Things didn't go well for India from the time they left the team hotel with batsman VVS Laxman complaining of a back spasm, but if it gives me another perspective, it was a born opportunity for guys like Suresh Raina and Y Venugopala Rao to carve a small niche for themselves in the game. Talent was indeed abundant in both of them, but the ability to rise to the occasion was relatively more with the Andhra batsman. Raina perhaps found himself on a sticky wicket (literally) when the great Murali just took a ball to measure the Ghaziabad lad, but he did manage to claim fame when his throw from Square Leg found the Lankan skipper wanting. On the other hand, YVR (as he is called) managed to show great girth, perhaps reinforcing the old batting adage of "Play the ball and not the bowler" - which was clearly evident when he played Murali with relative ease during his crucial 38. So as far as the Indians are concerned, there is some depth in the talent on display, and if tapped well, they just could be the spark Indian cricket needs at this stage.
Another youngster from the rival camp who caught my eyes was Dilhara Lokuhettige, the 25-year all-rounder from Colombo. Brave enough to open the bowling with Farveez Maharoof, Loku (following Sangakkara's call from behind the stumps) showed nerves initially when he was all over the strip against Virender Sehwag (most bowlers get intimidated by his sheer presence). But with Farveez giving Sri Lanka the perfect start by bowling out Sehwag, Loku's confidence was quite visible. The confidence translated into wickets of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh (off some intelligent bowling) and his 2/31 off his 10-over quota on debut was indeed of high relevance in minimizing India to just a mere 205. But why this youngster deserves more praise is the way he came into bat and virtually threatened to win the game in one gulp. A sixer off Sehwag over long-on in just his third ball echoes the ability and relevance Dilhara had in the context of the game. Maybe his 21 was just the tonic needed to get over the slug when the hosts were at 112/5. As I sit and praise this youngster, I carry some expectations with me. I personally hope that youngsters like Dilhara are backed by the selectors and with opportunities to deliver, they do become a part of a new chapter of Sri Lanka Cricket under Tom Moody.
Oh yes, about feeling at home...Who would dare to think that this game was played in Sri Lanka ? I personally didn't do so. It surely reminded me of a stadium somewhere amidst the scenery of say an Andamans or Kerala. But folks it is Dambulla...some 4 hrs from Colombo towards Sigiriya. But what I actually meant by home was the amount of advertising that has come into this tournament (or anywhere India plays) from home. Right from HDFC Life Insurance to Gopal 123 Zarda, the advertising boards never spelt anything Sri Lankan (except for Dilmah..the official sponsors of the Lankan team and also the SLC Souvenir Shops). And this does'nt stop here. Wherever India goes, there is some money that follows. It is indeed interesting to see the widespread reach of India Inc. even in a neighbourly country like Sri Lanka, which perhaps could be the untapped virgin market these corporates are looking to get into and for someone who has been to Sri Lanka as a tourist, let me assure you that it ain't the worst place to get into.
Coming back to Cricket from a lil Kotlernomics, one would be foolish if he would discount Sanath Ayya's ("ayya" in Sinhala means big brother) brave cameo, which shooed the game away from India. It was one of the few knocks I have seen him play with a certain poise, level-headedness and ease, something different from his slam-baam-boom batting at the top. Sanath's injury at the start of the innings might surely have been music to Indian ears, but there was a lot of room in the concert for Sanath to change the tunes. I somehow echo the voices of the Ten Sports commentators (who I usually detest for various reasons) that the team needs to give a great deal of thought to Sanath's role as a middle-order player. There is a lot of scope for the Matara Mauler to be the finisher and perhaps give an extention to his cricketing career. But for now, "Get Well Soon, Ayya" is all I would like to convey to one of my favourite ENTERTAINERS - sure is one !!
There is a lot India needs to learn from Saturday going into Sunday, where they are a fancied lot against a weak West Indies team. But the order of the day is not to be complacent, as they must have been stung by now. Many Happy Returns of the Day to Greg Chappell, and we all hope that the team gives their coach a memorable birthday gift in the form of a big win !! Over to Dambulla for Game 2 !! (Review tomorrow)
Things didn't go well for India from the time they left the team hotel with batsman VVS Laxman complaining of a back spasm, but if it gives me another perspective, it was a born opportunity for guys like Suresh Raina and Y Venugopala Rao to carve a small niche for themselves in the game. Talent was indeed abundant in both of them, but the ability to rise to the occasion was relatively more with the Andhra batsman. Raina perhaps found himself on a sticky wicket (literally) when the great Murali just took a ball to measure the Ghaziabad lad, but he did manage to claim fame when his throw from Square Leg found the Lankan skipper wanting. On the other hand, YVR (as he is called) managed to show great girth, perhaps reinforcing the old batting adage of "Play the ball and not the bowler" - which was clearly evident when he played Murali with relative ease during his crucial 38. So as far as the Indians are concerned, there is some depth in the talent on display, and if tapped well, they just could be the spark Indian cricket needs at this stage.
Another youngster from the rival camp who caught my eyes was Dilhara Lokuhettige, the 25-year all-rounder from Colombo. Brave enough to open the bowling with Farveez Maharoof, Loku (following Sangakkara's call from behind the stumps) showed nerves initially when he was all over the strip against Virender Sehwag (most bowlers get intimidated by his sheer presence). But with Farveez giving Sri Lanka the perfect start by bowling out Sehwag, Loku's confidence was quite visible. The confidence translated into wickets of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh (off some intelligent bowling) and his 2/31 off his 10-over quota on debut was indeed of high relevance in minimizing India to just a mere 205. But why this youngster deserves more praise is the way he came into bat and virtually threatened to win the game in one gulp. A sixer off Sehwag over long-on in just his third ball echoes the ability and relevance Dilhara had in the context of the game. Maybe his 21 was just the tonic needed to get over the slug when the hosts were at 112/5. As I sit and praise this youngster, I carry some expectations with me. I personally hope that youngsters like Dilhara are backed by the selectors and with opportunities to deliver, they do become a part of a new chapter of Sri Lanka Cricket under Tom Moody.
Oh yes, about feeling at home...Who would dare to think that this game was played in Sri Lanka ? I personally didn't do so. It surely reminded me of a stadium somewhere amidst the scenery of say an Andamans or Kerala. But folks it is Dambulla...some 4 hrs from Colombo towards Sigiriya. But what I actually meant by home was the amount of advertising that has come into this tournament (or anywhere India plays) from home. Right from HDFC Life Insurance to Gopal 123 Zarda, the advertising boards never spelt anything Sri Lankan (except for Dilmah..the official sponsors of the Lankan team and also the SLC Souvenir Shops). And this does'nt stop here. Wherever India goes, there is some money that follows. It is indeed interesting to see the widespread reach of India Inc. even in a neighbourly country like Sri Lanka, which perhaps could be the untapped virgin market these corporates are looking to get into and for someone who has been to Sri Lanka as a tourist, let me assure you that it ain't the worst place to get into.
Coming back to Cricket from a lil Kotlernomics, one would be foolish if he would discount Sanath Ayya's ("ayya" in Sinhala means big brother) brave cameo, which shooed the game away from India. It was one of the few knocks I have seen him play with a certain poise, level-headedness and ease, something different from his slam-baam-boom batting at the top. Sanath's injury at the start of the innings might surely have been music to Indian ears, but there was a lot of room in the concert for Sanath to change the tunes. I somehow echo the voices of the Ten Sports commentators (who I usually detest for various reasons) that the team needs to give a great deal of thought to Sanath's role as a middle-order player. There is a lot of scope for the Matara Mauler to be the finisher and perhaps give an extention to his cricketing career. But for now, "Get Well Soon, Ayya" is all I would like to convey to one of my favourite ENTERTAINERS - sure is one !!
There is a lot India needs to learn from Saturday going into Sunday, where they are a fancied lot against a weak West Indies team. But the order of the day is not to be complacent, as they must have been stung by now. Many Happy Returns of the Day to Greg Chappell, and we all hope that the team gives their coach a memorable birthday gift in the form of a big win !! Over to Dambulla for Game 2 !! (Review tomorrow)
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