India will look to use their encounter against punching bag Zimbabwe on Monday as an opportunity to restore their battered pride in the Videocon Cup tri-series.
A cricketing feast is in the offing and nothing less than a crushing win against the inexperienced hosts would help the Indians erase the humiliation of the batting debacle against New Zealand in their opening match two days ago.
The new season has shown up the failings of the past and it all concerns the batsmen. Tomorrow is a good day to express their intentions and back it up subsequently against the Kiwis.
That such resolutions must have often figured in the Indian batsmen's mind in the past season and yet it didn't reflect in the middle either proves that the stars have lost their marbles or the youngsters have not quite seized the moment with both hands.
There is a bit of truth in both though the youngsters must be excused for they are just feeling their way into international cricket.
Still, the inexorable march of time is throwing up more Suresh Rainas, Venugopal Raos, Jai Prakash Yadavs and Rudra Pratap Singhs. It is up to the seniors to react in time or face being swamped by youth. They now would be ignoring the signals at their own peril.
The team seems to be seized with an identity crisis.
Virender Sehwag flirts between attack and defence but still can't find a way forward.
Sourav Ganguly is conscious of the monkey on his back and it concerns his ability against genuine quick bowling.
Rahul Dravid is above criticism but such is not the case with Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. The duo spent much of their careers holding the bottom of the team together, and now when circumstances have afforded them the luxury of extra overs, find themselves unable to grab the moment by the collar.
And it would be no surprise if new coach Greg Chappell is starting to feel a sense of insecurity.
All the while, there is this nation of millions who seem ready to forsake their heroes at the first hint of failure.
There is a marked improvement in India's bowling and fielding and Chappell's intolerance with wayward length is beginning to produce dividends.
It should even encourage him to try out Uttar Pradesh youngster R P Singh against a lesser opponent in Zimbabwe by resting one of the regulars, possibly Irfan Pathan who has looked better and better with each passing game, both with bat and ball.
Zimbabwe have similar incentive to do well as with each drubbing in the middle, the cry for their ouster is becoming shrill.
The return of the seniors has made little difference and Andy Blignaut underlined the point in the first match against New Zealand. He was collared for 96 runs from his nine overs and his batting lasted less than half a dozen balls.
Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart and Brendon Taylor only served to strength point. Heath Streak is a glorious exception and he seems intent on making his return count.
Harare, if anything, is cooler than Bulawayo in the early hours and so toss is not a negligent factor in the equation. The pitch is also know for it's spongy bounce which has often proved to be India's undoing in the past. In two Tests at the same venue, India has failed to post 200 plus targets.
Zimbabwe is sure to treat this as a guiding light while Indians would do well to forget it. In this moment of crisis, they have nobody but themselves to fall back upon.
Teams:
India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Venugopal Rao, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, R P Singh, J P Yadav.
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Taibu (captain), Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Stuart Carlisle, Chamunowa Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Keith Dabengwa, Gavin Ewing, Blessing Mahwire, Hamilton Masakadza, Waddington Mwayenga, Edward Rainsford, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Brendon Taylor, Prosper Utseya and Craig Wishart.
Hours of play (IST): 1 pm to 4.30 pm; 5.15 pm till close of play.
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