Cricket India
India has been in scintillating form in 2010 and the biggest challenge they would have to face is South Africa in South Africa – their final frontier before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 begins. South Africa gives goosebumps to Indian cricket as its record has been terrible against the resilient Proteas. Everybody knows the killer instinct South Africa possess and it’s evident that they are miles better than what they have achieved. The Proteas are overwhelming favourites to end India’s unbeaten run this year.
India has struggled drastically in the past against the Proteas on South African soil. They have never won a series here. But, this time it seems India has the upper hand. The main cause of India’s failure here is the opening department. India has used 11 different opening pairs in the last 12 matches with little success. India’s best opening partnership was between Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik in 2006-07 when the duo made 153 runs but India lost that match. This is the only opening partnership that has been above 100 runs.
Today India’s strength lies in their previous weakness – the opening pair that comprises of destructive Virender Sehwag and classy Gautam Gambhir who are arguably the best openers India ever had. Both of them have been in terrific form and have been the clear cause of India’s batting strength and solidity. Minimizing weakness’s only increases strength. India has been known from ages for their formidable and dependable middle order, so if the two openers do what they do best India will have an advantage in the series.
Even if one of the two openers fails, the back-up is convincing. Murali Vijay the Tamil Nadu opener has been promising in the absence of other openers. Coach Gary Kirsten will be an important element in the Indian challenge. He being a South African knows what South Africa offers and challenges. He has brought the team to Cape Town early so that the players get used to the conditions. He is making batsmen play fast bowling on rugged wickets to give them the essence of South African attack.
With so many plus points in the bag for India a great challenge can be easily expected from the visitors and South Africa too are not under-estimating the number one ranked test team in the world.
Tags: Cricket, Cricket India, Gary Kirsten, Gautam Gambhir, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India, Indian Cricket, Proteas, South Africa, Virender Sehwag
