A resolute and determined performance, aided by timely chunks of luck, has taken India to the threshold of a series win against their rivals from across the border. An excellent batting display in initially difficult conditions set up what in the end was a handsome margin at Green Park, though with the exception of Harbhajan Singh, the bowling was perhaps a little under-cooked.
Not for the first time, it was the combine of Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni that did the bulk of the damage with the bat. Even last year, when India went to Pakistan, this very pair played a pivotal role in India's 4-1 one-day triumph. The two of them bat beautifully in each other's company. Both strike the ball extremely hard and run exceptionally well between the wickets, putting pressure on the fielding side. Pakistan have shown a tendency to crack under pressure, and it was no different in Kanpur as the captain and the vice-captain ran them ragged.
Left-right pair
It helps that one is a right-hander and the other a left-hander, so when the strike keeps turning over, it becomes difficult for the fielding side. As a bowler myself, I know how frustrating it can be to have to keep changing lines every delivery when a left-right combination is batting.
Dhoni's progression up the batting order is not merely indicative of his desire as captain to assume more responsibility, but also a show of confidence in Robin Uthappa’s striking abilities down the order. Not very long back, Dhoni had said that while he would like to bat higher up, he would only do so on a consistent basis when he was certain someone else could perform the same hitting role as himself at six or seven.
In Uthappa, he sees the ideal candidate to 'finish' an innings off, and that is a huge compliment to the young man who is, it must be remembered, a specialist opener.
Bold striker
Uthappa is a bold striker of the cricket ball, almost taking over the patent for the 'walking drive' from Matthew Hayden. He is blessed with the skills to find the boundaries on a fairly regular basis whenever he is at the crease. What he can achieve when he has time on his side and partners in the middle is mind-boggling!
Speaking of boundaries, that is one area India's new-ball bowlers must seriously work on. Particularly on sub-continental tracks, it is essential that the quicker bowlers pitch the ball up and try to get it to swing. The Indian attack was guilty of bowling far too short, nullifying the potential for swing and serving up buffet balls that Salman Butt in particular feasted on.
Butt had ten fours in his first 50, and most of them came off authentic cricket strokes. It has to be emphasised that he was accorded the luxury of playing his strokes. As things stand, all the rules are batsman-orientated. Twenty overs of Power Plays, two men catching in the first 10 overs, flat tracks, fast outfields, a newer and harder ball after 34 overs.
Self-defeating
All these combine to make the bowlers’ task extremely difficult. It serves no purpose then to add to your own troubles by bowling short and wide. The Kookaburra swings for no more than 10-12 overs, and that is when it has to necessarily be put to good use.