Indian openers have peaked at the right time

The comprehensive win at Hyderabad for the Indian cricket team will make the players see the final in a whole new light. Indians started the...

The comprehensive win at Hyderabad for the Indian cricket team will make the players see the final in a whole new light. Indians started the tournament as favourites but somehow slipped to the second place as far as the points columns are concerned. This position would have no bearing on the final as very few would disagree that it could be anybody’s game. It is the test of the nerves. Experience is the biggest asset needed at this hour to sail the ship across.

The Australian skipper is lucky in a way that he has called the crucial coin right on two out of three occasions. The only time when he lost the toss in Gwalior did cost him the game too.

The Australian openers have really made the best use of the afternoon conditions to set targets without any pressure. It looks like the ingrained confidence of the pulverising partners in Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden can only be tested if put under pressure with the Indians putting a good score on the board. Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn have contributed on the platform usually set by the openers.

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Although the batting depth is the one which is winning the game for the Australians, the bowling remains a weak link. Nevertheless, the bowlers have come good while defending huge totals set by their batsmen.

The Indian openers have peaked in time and the team think-tank can’t ask for a better timing. Tendulkar has been the most consistent for his side in this tournament and that Sehwag is among the runs during the last two games will be a cause of relief for the Indian team. A last effort towards an act of demolition will be expected from the diminutive openers in this tournament.

Laxman, walking into bat at Eden Gardens, would not be a pretty sight for the Australian players who figured in the famous historic Test two years ago. The Hyderabadi will be all set to make a mark again.

Rahul’s knock in the last game showed what sound technique could do when the bowling is put to sword. I am sure he has realised a new batting package in himself.

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Quite obviously, bowling has been a thankless job whereas batting has become the focal point. Though the Indian bowling has been accused of being off-colour at times, the true story is that the bowlers have delivered under lights on most of the occasions.

A bowler bowling to defend a healthy score appears twice as effective as he would be bowling to set a target for their batsmen. Indian spearhead Zaheer Khan has bowled his heart out on every occasion and has showed signs of dominance. A rare breed must be feathered with care to last long. (PTI)