Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is destiny’s favourite child. And he is very happily married to Lady Luck. How else do you explain the fact that everything he touches turns to gold. He first substituted for Anil Kumble (as Test captain) against South Africa in the Kanpur Test and led India to a comprehensive eight-wicket win inside three days. A second opportunity came his way in Mohali and he has ensured himself a 320-run thrashing of Australia . And here we won’t even mention his ODIs or T20 exploits. Don’t agree with us. Here’s a second point of view then. He has given the term “leading from the front” a whole new meaning. Captaincy at a young age can be a burden and can affect your performance as a player. Not in Dhoni’s case though. He celebrated wearing the captain’s armband for a second time by contributing 92 and 68 not out with the bat– a performance that won him the man-of-the-match award. Don’t agree with us? Here’s the third and final point of view. The 27-year-old has his head firmly on his shoulder and has not let success distract him as is usually the case with the young Indian cricketers. Dhoni is aware of the fact that both “performance” and “luck” are variable factors and would pose a problem for him at some stage. And that is precisely what keeps him rooted. Still, don’t agree with us? Then just hear from the horse’s mouth. “When you play one or two matches, records do happen,” said Dhoni, when queried about his second successive triumph as Test captain. “But it is about doing it over a longer period of time.” The captain was in fact surprised that the Aussies succumbed so meekly. “Honestly speaking, we have not seen this before,” he admitted. “I mean in their first innings, they were 22 for two wickets after 13 overs and I was so surprised that I told Rahul (Dravid) that you don’t see things like that very often “And maybe you won’t see that again for a long time.” Dhoni did admit, however, that India was the better side. “I don’t believe in comparisons but we did most things right,” he explained. “We had only four bowlers and to their credit, they shared the responsibility well.” But doesn’t his captaincy deserved some credit as well? “There’s not too much pressure of being a captain,” admitted Dhoni. “We have to take care of certain things on the ground and channel our efforts in the right direction.” And what about his own batting? “It was a perfect scenario for me to just go out and play my natural game,” reasoned Dhoni. “We got a good start, the track was placid and the ball old. It was just the perfect occasion for my sort of batting. “I have realized that I should play my natural game, play to my strengths. In between, I was not playing my game but thinking of the scenario.” Another thing he has realised happens to be the fact that the hallmark of a good captain is to have faith in his players. “I believe in every guy who is part of the side,” he asserted. “Every player comes to this level after putting in a lot of effort.” The Mohali Test was memorable on many grounds– Sachin’s record, Amit Mishra’s performance on debut and his own batting. But what was it that Dhoni himself like the most? “Sourav getting 102 was special,” blurted Dhoni, without thinking even for a moment. “Since it is his last series, he was playing without any pressure. And that is how one wants to see him play.” With almost everything going to perfection he definitely has reasons to expect more. But Dhoni believes caution is the best way to propagate aggression. “They are a strong side,” he warned. “It is just that we are doing our job well now. So we don’t have to worry about the opposition as much. But they will come back strong for sure.” Successful, and still not complacent, that’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni for you. And now you better believe us.

 

First Test Draw

With the shame performance by Top level batsman India draw first test match against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar’s dogged innings of 49 out helped India inch closer to a draw against Australia on day five of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Monday.

Chasing a challenging target of 299 in a minimum of 83 overs, India reached 130 for three in 48 overs to put themselves in a good position to escape with a draw.

VVS Laxman was unbeaten on 28 from 75 deliveries as the two senior batsmen were involved in a cautious 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket that ate up more than 21 overs.

India were in trouble early when they lost the wickets of Virender Sehwag (6) and Rahul Dravid (5) in the first session.

But Tendulkar brought all his experience into play to rescue India as he stitched a 53-run partnership for the third wicket with Gautam Gambhir, who made 29.

Earlier, Australia batted for 32 minutes on the fifth and final day, adding 35 runs in five overs, before declaring their second innings on 228 for six in 73 overs.

Morning session: (76 runs, 3 wickets, 22 overs)

Anil Kumble started proceedings for India and could have taken a wicket immediately, but he dropped a return off the first ball. Haddin mistimed a drive which went straight back to Kumble, who floored and also injured his finger in the process.

Shane Watson then showed his intent with a couple of boundaries and Kumble and Ishant Sharma, before he was dismissed by the latter. The Aussie all-rounder, who made 41 from 72 deliveries, tried to hit Ishant across the line but got an inside edge, which crashed into his stumps.

Cameron White also looked to attack the moment he came in. He drove Ishant for a boundary through the off-side he faced as Australia looked for some quick runs in the morning as India spread the field.

The visitors batted for 32 minutes on the fifth and final day, adding 35 runs in five overs, before declaring their second innings on 228 for six in 73 overs.

Brad Haddin was unbeaten on 35 from 61 deliveries, with three boundaries, while Cameron White was not out on 18 from 14 deliveries, including two boundaries.

Harbhajan Singh took two for 76 in 27 overs, while Zaheer Khan claimed one for 46 in 17 overs.

Anil Kumble disappointed in his last Test match at his home ground as he finished wicketless in both the innings for a match tally of 160 runs in 51 overs.

(India innings)

This was a real chance for India to score an unlikely victory after Australia opted for a sporting declaration.

All depended on the start they got because once the ball gets old, it is very difficult to get the scoreboard moving on this slow pitches.

India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir look to get on with things early on as both started with boundaries.

Sehwag (5) got a lifeline early when wicketkeeper Hadding dropped him while diving to the right after the batsman got a regulation edge off Brett Lee.

However, Sehwag could not make the most of it as he fell in the very next over for 6. He tried to play Stuart Clark on the leg side but the ball swung enough to beat the shot and take the back of the bat, which went to first slip in the sixth over of the innings.

Rahul Dravid got off the mark with a classical straight drive off Lee in the seventh over of the innings.

But he did not stay on for long, falling to Lee after scoring just five.

The right-hander tried to flick Lee on the leg side, but was caught brilliantly by Ponting diving to his right at short midwicket to leave India in trouble at 24 for two in the ninth over.

Gambhir survived a close stumping chance off Clark, but the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman in a very close decision.

Sachin Tendulkar made a cautious start but then looked to raise the tempo with a couple of boundaries in Mitchell Johnson’s first over.

India’s hopes would now depend on veteran Tendulkar, who also has the chance to break Brian Lara’s world record for most Test runs.

Tendulkar is currently 48 runs short of Brian Lara’s aggregate of 11953 runs.

At this venue, only two teams out of nine have successfully chased down a target in the fourth innings, the highest being 195 for 2 by Australia in 1998.

Post lunch session: (89 runs, 1 wicket, 31 overs)

India played out a few quite overs after the break till Gambhir broke the shackles with boundaries in consecutive overs off Mitchell Johnson and Michael Clarke.

Johnson had his revenge soon after when he shattered Gambhir’s stumps with a fast yorker.

The left-hander’s long vigil at the crease ended for 29 that included four boundaries in 81 deliveries.

Debutant leg spinner Cameron White came on to bowl in the 36th over to replace part-timer Clarke was not making much of an impact.

He immediately forced Tendulkar to drive at a wide one, which he edged, but fortunately it went over the slip region.

Tendulkar seemed to have learnt from that mistake and after that just concentrated on playing it safe.

VVS Laxman also weathered the initial storm from the pacers before looking at ease against the spinners.

Laxman loosened up before the tea break as he creamed a few boundaries of the two spinners. He hit White for two boundaries in the final over before to bring up the 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Tendulkar.

Tendulkar showed great maturity to keep the bowlers at bay as he reached 47 not out with four boundaries in 111 deliveries. Laxman also looked quite comfortable having reached 28 from 75 deliveries, having hit four boundaries.

The hosts need 169 runs in a minimum of 35 overs with seven wickets in hand, but it seems unlikely they would go for the target. Australia still have time in their hand and a few quick wickets after tea could work in their favour.