While MS Dhoni reckons the toss will be crucial, hosts South Africa are least worried
While MS Dhoni reckons the toss will be crucial, hosts South Africa are least worried
While the South African camp is beaming with confidence to prepare India's last rites, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side, which consumed over 130 overs to remove four South African batsmen on a bouncy pitch at Centurion, prepares to defend its status quo.
That tag, of the No 1 Test team, has handed them gentle reminders time and again on this tour to raise the bar. Another slip-up here would increase the volume of those reminders, if anything. For this is the true test of their character and reputation.
"We have got here now (to the No 1 position). It is important to maintain the standard otherwise people will ask questions," an honest Indian skipper said on Saturday. "Having lost the first Test badly, there is only one way up from here," he said.
While Dhoni, who has lost three tosses in a row now, continues to stress on the importance of the coin-flip, South Africa coach says the toss is the last thing his team is worried about. "The wicket looks quite green, so obviously the toss will be very crucial. Our batsmen need to negotiate the seam bowling a lot better," said Dhoni.
Corrie van Zyl undermined the importance of the toss and warned Dhoni that his team will not be complacent. "The toss is not at all important. It is not a big factor in our minds. Five days is a long time in Durban, a lot can happen because the weather can change constantly. We are approaching this game as starting fresh again. We have forgotten what happened at Centurion. Sure, we are carrying the confidence from there, but this is a new beginning."
Meanwhile, Dhoni said he was confident of a better bowling performance, "Having Zaheer Khan back is a big boost. Bowlers have been doing well in the net sessions. They are shaping up really well. They are a talented lot, and have the ability to take 20 wickets but they need to raise their game," he said.
Christmas Day was all about getting the mental state in order. The Indians enjoyed a reasonable practice session while the South Africans arrived at the ground without star players Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla.
Luck and Dhoni often tag along like fish and chips. Earlier this year, the Indians had to make three remarkable comebacks, at Kolkata, Colombo and Mohali to avoid handing Dhoni his first-ever series loss as Test skipper.
Asked if the second Test against South Africa was the most important of his 52-Test match long career, Dhoni said: "We respect every Test match. I don't want to add any extra pressure on the players. Every Test match is important and I don't want to treat this any differently."
Gambhir injuredWhile the rest of the batsmen were at the nets, opener Gautam Gambhir, who scored a valiant 81 in the second innings of the first Test last week, was rushed to the dressing room for treatment after he injured his left hand on Saturday.
Dhoni confirmed this later in the day: "Gambhir has a little niggle on his left hand. He got struck during the last Test match. "There is no official word yet on his injury. Everyone else is totally fit," he said.
