A win in the final ODI at Goa will mean Dhoni's Indians claim Test & ODI honours against Australia for the first time. MiD DAY speaks to two members of Indian teams who narrowly missed out on those team triumphs
A win in the finalu00a0ODI at Goa will mean Dhoni's Indians claim Test &u00a0ODI honours againstu00a0Australia for the first time. MiD DAY speaks to two members of Indian teams who narrowly missed out on those team triumphs
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Jiyo, utho, badho ufffd jeeto. The AR Rehman theme song may have inspired Indian athletes to give their best-ever performance in the just-concluded Delhi Commonwealth Games. However, India's cricketers should listen to it before the third and final ODI against Australia in Goa.
This Sunday could be a historic day for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Indian cricket if the Men in Blue can beat Australia to clinch the series 2-0.u00a0 By doing so, India will bag both Test and ODI series honours against Australia for the first time.
"We have a great chance to finish the Aussies and create history," reckoned former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad. "They look shattered and shaken up after being whitewashed 2-0 in the Test series. This Australian side looks very vulnerable," he added.
Under Gaekwad in 1997-98, India had a realistic chance of beating the Australians after winning the Test series 2-1. But it didn't happen as India lost the fifth and final ODI of the triangular series final at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. Again in 2000-01, India under Sourav Ganguly, had a golden opportunity to topple Steve Waugh's Australia in the ODIs, but the visitors won the final ODI by four wickets in Goa.
"It was really disappointing for everyone. We were so confident of winning the series. In fact, at one point we were even leading the series 2-1," said former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya, who was a part of that team.
Gaekwad stressed on Incredible Dhoni. "The way he has led this young team is simply brilliant. He knows how to get the best out of everyone. The best quality about him is his cool and composed mind under pressure. That's a very rare thing to have and that's where the Indian team is benefiting the most," said Gaekwad.
Dahiya stressed, "We should not forget that these bunch of youngsters are very talented as well. The kind of pressure that they can soak in is all because of the IPL. It really helps by sharing the dressing room with top cricketers."
Gaekwad and Dahiya felt bowling is a major concern though. "Ashish Nehra needs more support from the other end. He is our strike bowler, but he is reduced to bowling in the Powerplays," said Dahiya.u00a0 Gaekwad remembered a similar weakness in 1998: "We relied too much on Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad during that Delhi game. I can see that happening now as well."
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