Sourav Ganguly believes India were both 'lucky and intelligent' in their opening match of the 2015 World Cup against Pakistan.
Lucky, because Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq did not utilise his resources properly. Intelligent, because Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started off smartly against the new ball.
"They grafted and waited for the loose balls. They were just rotating the strike well. Remember, they are stroke-players, so they had to restrain themselves, which they did. They really batted in a well-planned way," observed the former India captain.
The one thing where Pakistan got it wrong, according to him, was their field placings.
"We all know Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli are comfortable against spin, but Pakistan still deployed them. Both Raina and Kohli capitalised against the spin bowling. They played them very comfortably and scored runs with ease.
"In the end, 300 was a gettable target, but the amount of patience which was required from the Pakistani batsmen was not displayed. The Indians bowled better than in the earlier matches," he opined.
Currently in Australia as a television commentator, Ganguly had a word of praise for fast bowler Umesh Yadav, saying the pacer’s two-wicket burst changed the course of the match, which India won by 76 runs.
"It's good that India are in a rhythm. They can go far ahead now. If you start well, you get confidence which they have gained," he added.
India now have South Africa in their sights, as the two sides go head-to-head on February 22 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Ganguly said India have the momentum to push ahead, having regrouped and planned well post the tri-series in Australia.
Inevitable comparisons are now being drawn between the current side's poor run in form to the 2015 World Cup and the Ganguly-led team's disastrous run in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup.
But Ganguly insisted that those comparisons are unjustified.
"In 2003 we had gone in only with one bad series in New Zealand. Prior to that we had done well everywhere, winning a series in West Indies and England, besides doing well at home. Then, just months before the World Cup, we were joint-winners at the Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka. But this time we have not done well in the last one-and-a-half years, so the comparison is not just justified," he added.
No practice day, Indian players spend time mostly in hotel rooms
The Indian squad, which moved to Melbourne after easily overcoming their first hurdle at the World Cup in Pakistan, opted to take yet another off, even as South Africa, their next opponents, chose not to train, on Tuesday.
The players kept themselves busy at the hotel’s gymnasium and swimming pool.
Both teams will practice at St Kilda, the legendary Shane Warne's home ground on Wednesday.
India have never beaten South Africa in a World Cup in three attempts, in 1992 at Adelaide, 1999 at Hove and 2011 at Nagpur, but haveing beaten Pakistan the confidence in the Indian camp is slowly returning.
The team is staying at ‘The Langham’, which is close to the Yarra river. The players were seen crossing the nearby bridge to visit convenience stores for essentials and food items. Overall, the players preferred to be largely confined to their rooms.
India opener Shikhar Dhawan spent a couple of days with his wife, Ayesha, who hails from Melbourne.
Things, though, are still gloomy for Pakistan as former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad added fuel to fire by criticising skipper Misbah-ul Haq, even as Wasim Akram, another cricket legend from the country, backed the side to bounce back.
After the efforts of Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza and Paul Stirling of Ireland everyone is now sitting up and taking notice of the 'lesser' sides. All teams, including India, are wary of an upset in the upcoming matches.
- Apostrophe Content and Entertainment
ICC World Cup Merchandise 2015 available on Rediff Shopping
