Look at the positive side

Yogesh Upadhyaya

I am often bewildered by the criticism of the Indian cricket team and players. Too many times, it seems to me, fans, commentators and columnist wait for opportunities to vent their righteous indignation.

Let me be clear -- this piece will not try to defend the record of the Indian cricket team. An overseas (defined as outside the subcontinent) record of 20 losses, 1 victory and 19 draws can hardly be defended. Instead, this piece tries to make a plea for more measured reactions from all connected with Indian cricket.

A nation of 90 million (or is it 100?) with such passion for the game should have a much better record. Agreed. Absolutely. No questions. But, the fact is it has a very sorry record. Before the current series India spent 15 years without winning in any country where the ball either rises above the knees or moves before or after pitching. Thus, winning in a Test match in Zimbabwe was a great achievement for the Indian team. No question.

Beating Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe was no big deal. Wrong. For the Indian team it was a big deal. Remember, the Indian team had tried to do that twice earlier and had failed both times.

I am a cricket fan and am deeply disappointed whenever India looses. But, I am unwilling not to take the positives that are so clearly there. India won an overseas victory after 15 years. The Indian fielding, for so long abysmally bad, was superb through the series. The Indian tail after many years showed an inclination to stick around like the Australian tail (No Steve Waugh to keep the tail company though). The Indian bowlers were willing to bowl on one side of the wicket even if they did not get a wicket for 10 or more overs. In short, the team, after a long, long time, was getting the basics right.

Also, after a long time India had a spinner who could take wickets on an unhelpful surface and an opener who measured his success by the number of deliveries he did not play.

So where does all this leave us? It leaves us with a realistic expectation that maybe over the next two or three years this team would be able to pull itself from near bottom Test ratings and get somewhere near number three or four.

Of course, it also leaves us wishing for one genuine match-winning fast bowler, another technically sound opener, a captain who can battle like Steve Waugh and a Sachin Tendulkar who consistently scores centuries. Of course, that would make India the number one team in the world. A team that would beat Australia and South Africa on their home grounds. Will it happen? Well a miracle did happen in Kolkatta a few months back, so one can always hope…However, if it does not happen please do have some kind words if the team keeps improving. Bacche kee jaan mat lo [Don't take the lives of the kids].

On the subject of bacche kee jaan, Tendulkar is being criticized for not playing doughty and critical innings the way Steve Waugh has done. I hope that he does so and contributes more to better India's overseas record. However, if it does not happen, I am grateful when he manages to end series with an average of more than forty.

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