The intensity level might be different from the Test matches, but India will certainly aim for a win, and that too in resounding fashion, to keep the confidence going.
Such is the tight scheduling of international cricket these days that no sooner has the magnitude of their series win over England sunk in then India’s cricketers will perforce have to pad up for another assignment, on Thursday against Scotland.
The intensity level might be different from the Test matches, but India will certainly aim for a win, and that too in resounding fashion, to keep the confidence going. More importantly, the outing will give them a chance to shift to the one-day mode.
"Any international game will be taken seriously. I don't think we expect any favours, nor are we going to be giving any. We have just finished a big Test series -- emotionally, physically and mentally quite tough. We have to change to one-day mode. But that's the life of an international sportsman, without much gap," Dravid said.
Crucial week
"We've got to use this week well. We have to get into the right frame of mind. One-day disciplines like ground fielding, throwing etc needed to be sharpened. We were catching a lot more during practice for the Tests. The coaches will probably be emphasising on that," he said.
The five players drafted into the one-day side -- Robin Uthappa, Munaf Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Rohit Sharma and Piyush Chawla -- arrived here on Tuesday morning, and most of them will get a chance straightaway on the morrow. Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan might sit out to recharge their batteries before the one-day series begins.
"It is an opportunity for a few guys who didn't play the Tests. We have five boys coming in from India, and I am sure there will be a lot of eager guys tomorrow. I spoke to the young guys and they're the ones who'll have to drive us this week. They are the guys who will have to show the eagerness and keenness to raise the bar. They've rested and are keen, and we are looking up to them to put in the big performances," Dravid said.
Emotional times
"A lot of guys who played the Tests would have gone through a lot mentally and emotionally. We'll give them a chance to switch off over the next few days. We can't give everyone a break, but the guys who need it most, like fast bowlers, will be looked after," Dravid said.
One bowler will be eagerly watched. Munaf Patel is returning after a lower back strain forced him to return home midway through the Bangladesh tour in May. The paceman will have to come up with a solid show to clear the way for him to figure in future series.
"Venky (Prasad) had a look at him in the nets. Munaf’s played two games at the KSCA tournament. I am happy that he went through a good fielding session. It is nice to see Munaf back, he is one of the better bowlers in one-dayers with good economy. I'm as keen as anyone else to see how he goes tomorrow," Dravid said.
Scotland skipper Ryan Watson exuded the confidence that his team could do well against a far superior opponent. "India are a world super-power cricketwise, and we need to give them a good game. Our experiences at home have been very good, we know the conditions. When we play here, it's better than when we play away. We have to bat all the way down and we have a good seam attack. In this match, we have to push the ball up further than you do normally," he said.
The only threat to a good game of cricket is the weather as heavy rains are predicted for the morrow.
