Cuttack, Jan 23: Having seized the initiative with an audacious batting display in the opening game, India would strive to keep up the momentum and carry forward their World Cup preparations when they take on the West Indies in the second cricket one-dayer here tomorrow. With comeback man Sourav Ganguly setting the stage by scoring an electrifying 98, the star-studded Indian batting line-up - derided for its inconsistency and a string of poor shows in the recent South Africa tour - sparkled at last in Nagpur to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. However, the Indians could scarcely afford to relax, given the visitors' formidable batting, as was demonstrated on Sunday when Shivnarine Chanderpaul nearly won the game for them from an all-lost situation.
With the match being played under lights, dew would once again be a factor as it was during the Champions Trophy. Therefore, toss becomes vital. India should be keener to clinch a win tomorrow as that will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead. But they cannot take it for granted against the Caribbeans who have dominated them in the recent past, winning six of the last nine one-dayers. But Nagpur might have given the hosts the much needed turnaround. On a low after the 0-4 drubbing against South Africa days back, the men in blue could not have dreamt of a better start to boost their morale and get their adrenaline flowing. All frontline Indian batsmen, save Sachin Tendulkar, struck half-centuries, and the new opening combine of Ganguly and Goutam Gambhir went cracking at the belter of a track provided by the
VCA.
For the 'Prince of Kolkata', written off a year ago by those who matter in Indian cricket - coach Greg Chappell, the selection panel quintet as also a clutch of former captains - his return to big time cricket is now complete. If South Africa marked the talismanic left hander's rebirth in Test cricket, Nagpur saw his royal re-entry into the ODI fold, which in turn gave a fresh spark to India's often faltering charge towards the World Cup. Gambhir's aggressive 69 has also earned wholesome praise, and the country's cricketing buffs would hope for a similar knock from the Delhi left hander and another rollicking stand from the opening duo.
For under-pressure wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the cracker of an innings that he played two days back could not have come at a better time. With there being much talk of the selectors falling for the batting qualities of second wicket-keeper Dinesh Kaarthick, the Nagpur innings was a reply firm enough to silence his critics from the Ranchi dasher. But what would be watched with interest is whether the Indian team management keeps faith in the four-bowler strategy, which was criticised after the West Indies batsmen tore to smithereens three of the frontline bowlers S Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh and came close to upsetting the hosts' applecart. An engaging debate could also be on the utility a double-spin attack, with Ramesh Powar adding his magic to Harbhajan's guiles.
West Indies, losing the ever-reliable Ramnaresh Sarwan to injury in the lead-up to the tour, would be pinning their hopes on a scintillating performance from their crack opening duo of Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul who launched the Caribbean reply in style at Nagpur. Brian Lara also came up with a disciplined performance in the series opener, and the crowd at Barabati, who last witnessed a one-dayer three-years back, would be hoping to see Big knock from the Trinidadian. For those statistically inclined, Barabati has been a happy hunting ground for India, though the script seems to have changed of late. The hosts have won six of their 10 matches here, but went down to England and New Zealand in their last two ties. West Indies played here once, in 1994-95, when they went down to India by eight wickets. Lara and Chanderpaul are the only two surviving members from that game in the present squad. (Agencies)
Cuttack, Jan 23: Having seized the initiative with an audacious batting display in the opening game, India would strive to keep up the momentum and carry forward their World Cup preparations when they take on the West Indies in the second cricket one-dayer here tomorrow. With comeback man Sourav Ganguly setting the stage by scoring an electrifying 98, the star-studded Indian batting line-up - derided for its inconsistency and a string of poor shows in the recent South Africa tour - sparkled at last in Nagpur to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. However, the Indians could scarcely afford to relax, given the visitors' formidable batting, as was demonstrated on Sunday when Shivnarine Chanderpaul nearly won the game for them from an all-lost situation.
With the match being played under lights, dew would once again be a factor as it was during the Champions Trophy. Therefore, toss becomes vital. India should be keener to clinch a win tomorrow as that will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead. But they cannot take it for granted against the Caribbeans who have dominated them in the recent past, winning six of the last nine one-dayers. But Nagpur might have given the hosts the much needed turnaround. On a low after the 0-4 drubbing against South Africa days back, the men in blue could not have dreamt of a better start to boost their morale and get their adrenaline flowing. All frontline Indian batsmen, save Sachin Tendulkar, struck half-centuries, and the new opening combine of Ganguly and Goutam Gambhir went cracking at the belter of a track provided by the
VCA.
For under-pressure wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the cracker of an innings that he played two days back could not have come at a better time. With there being much talk of the selectors falling for the batting qualities of second wicket-keeper Dinesh Kaarthick, the Nagpur innings was a reply firm enough to silence his critics from the Ranchi dasher. But what would be watched with interest is whether the Indian team management keeps faith in the four-bowler strategy, which was criticised after the West Indies batsmen tore to smithereens three of the frontline bowlers S Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh and came close to upsetting the hosts' applecart. An engaging debate could also be on the utility a double-spin attack, with Ramesh Powar adding his magic to Harbhajan's guiles.
