Keeping note of cricket matches is an arduous task in these days of hectic schedule. But a Test match held a little over two years ago is still etched in memory. At the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, India powered to a 259-run win over Sri Lanka.
The imposing nature of the victory apart, the superlative performance of the Indian spinners was the highlight of that win. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh outclassed their Sri Lankan counterparts — Muttiah Muralitharan and Malinga Bandara — capturing 17 wickets between them to wreck the Islanders.
It was the last time when Indian spinners produced a masterclass to spur the team to a Test win at home. When India last played a Test series at home — against Pakistan — the face of Indian cricket had changed considerably.
A set of young pace bowlers had emerged by then, giving a new dimension to the Indian bowling attack. Young quicks Rudra Pratap Singh, S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma had stormed into the international scene. During that time, India managed to unearth only one young spinner, Piyush Chawla.
It was left to Kumble and Harbhajan to keep the tradition of spin going during that time, and the old firm will perforce have to come up with another stirring show to give India an upper hand over South Africa in the second Test starting here on Thursday.
The two years, however, have added more responsibilities on the shoulders of these two experienced campaigners. The Bangalorean was appointed captain of the Indian Test team after Rahul Dravid stepped down from the hot seat. Since then, the veteran leg-spinner has jelled into the dual role of captain and leading bowler with astonishing ease. Kumble has proved to be a true leader of men without ever sacrificing his primary duty. The tour of Australia provided a shining example as Kumble guided his team through the murky days of racial allegations and other controversies with great maturity.
If Kumble had to counter the gamesmanship of the Australian players, his spin partner Harbhajan had to battle a hostile Aussie crowd and media as well. But the Punjab player showed remarkable resilience throughout a tough Antipodean summer, and his continued dominance over old foe Ricky Ponting was one of the noteworthy features of the series.
Now, the stage is set for the duo to perform their dance of destruction one more time, and this time at a venue where Indian spinners have done well traditionally.
Personally too, they will be eager to put the disappointment of a modest outing in the first Test in Chennai behind them. A pitch bereft of turn and fizz had reduced the efficiency of the duo in the southern metropolis, enabling the South African batsmen to handle them with confidence.
To their credit, the South African batsmen too had adapted to the prevailing conditions splendidly, especially Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie. But on a pitch that is expected to provide some assistance for the spinners, the Proteas — with due respect to their ability to play spin — will find Kumble and Harbhajan much more difficult to deal with.
With Kanpur — venue of the third and final Test — being a traditional batting paradise, the hosts will be keen to surge ahead of their opponents here, and it is time for Kumble and Harbhajan to strike.
