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All is not lost, yet
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12 Apr 2010, 12:45:23 PM
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| Posted by VB Chandrasekar |
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Getting to Nagpur, we were on a high, but the conditions were extraordinarily difficult with the dry heat even at half-past five when we landed. A blast of heat greeted us as we alighted. Deciding to forego practice sessions, we went straight into the match that was scheduled for a 4 pm start with possibly one batsman short.
There has been a lot of chat on Murali’s omission and yes, we might have erred, but I would say that the loss was due to the poor efforts from our batsmen. It was the responsibility of the batsmen to give us a 160-plus total.
The 4 pm start also meant that the ball tended to hold on to the deck, the reason being that the top surface got heated up, leading to friction. It was smart bowling from DC who used the slower bowlers to prevent us from going for the biggies.
Our batsmen had not taken into account the fact that it was the largest field in India. Going for the big one across to midwicket was absolute foolishness. But what set us back was the silly run out of Murali Vijay.
This brought in our only power-hitter, Mahi. Adam Gilchrist had held back Ojha for just this moment. It is no secret that left-arm spinners trouble Mahi at the start of his innings. It is only when he settles down that he gets stuck into them. With the disappointing performance of our batsmen, we had only tail-enders for the last four overs and could not get to 160.
It was heartening to see Ashwin giving us a fabulous start and all credit to the bowlers for extending the game into the 20th over. At the end of it all, it was hard battle. We can take enough confidence from the fact that we were willing to fight in a lost cause and defending a low target.
There was a lot of gloom in the dressing room, but we kept cheering each other and the depression did not continue for long.
So, it was back to travel after spending another hot day in Nagpur. As we hit the airport, the Sunday games were on and their results determined where we stood. The captain kept us abreast of the scores and told us that Delhi had capitulated for 111 and that Punjab were doing well enough.
At the transit lounge in Mumbai, we saw the remaining part of the game, feeling good that the Punjab Kings, who beat us in the super over, were coming back to hurt others and upset some contenders for the last four.
On the flight out of Mumbai to Chennai, we kept receiving updates from our captain and more good news was flying our way. The team was cheerful with Murali being the cheerleader as usual.
Back in Chennai, as Mahi passed by me, I tugged at his jeans and he caught hold of his arm and said: “My mom asked me not to talk to strangers.” I responded by saying that he would make one hell of an actor, looking at him in advertisements but he cannot be compared with Rajanikanth, and he was my three-in-one champion I was relying on.
He looked at me and said: “More pressure from you.” I replied saying: “You have never disappointed me.” He just smiled and let things as they were.
There is certainly a lift in the mood and an upsurge due to the results of other games. This has put us with two home matches to snatch with better understanding of home conditions. We look forward to the return of Albie and Murali. It is very critical to pick the right combination depending on the strengths and weakness of the opposition.
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