Missed opportunities and foiled plans -- that pretty much sums up our efforts in the TVS Cup.
Looking back at the tournament, we had plenty of chances to book our place in the final before the last group game, especially in Pune, but, sadly, we were unable to finish well.
We even had our chances in the Guwahati game, but there too we did not make the most of them, and as a result paid the price.
In Hyderabad, there was only one team that looked like it would win after the 15th over. We were outplayed in all departments of the game, and it was just one of those days when one team clicks while the other just does not get off the blocks.
It was a masterclass from Sachin Tendulkar to start with. After his departure, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid just kept raising the tempo. Once again it was proved that when Sachin succeeds, the others feed off his confidence and do well.
If India can replicate this performance at the Eden Gardens tomorrow, there is every chance that it will be a good day for the hosts. Their batting was pretty impressive in Bangalore as well, and if their bowlers manage to bowl reasonably well, Ganguly's men are in business.
It will be a hugely dramatic setting, with the emotions of 1,00,000 people spurring on the Indians, and strange upsets are known to happen in such circumstances.
But the Australians have been the class act of the tournament so far, and they are not a team to choke under crowd pressure. The Indians have to play as well as they did in Hyderabad -- nothing less will get them through against the world champions. The big match players, Messrs Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, will have to key up for the big game. The way I see it, at least two of these three guys will have to fire tomorrow.
I don't think the toss will be too crucial as the advantage of batting first will be negated somewhat by the dew factor and the wet ball. I have been told that statistics overwhelmingly favour the team batting first at the Eden Gardens, so it will be interesting to see whether that trend continues.
Coming back to our performance, it was disappointing to see that the two areas that worried us at the start of the tournament continued to plague us right till the end -- poor batting at the top and poor bowling at the end. We really tried hard to address these two factors, but the absence of Nathan Astle at the top and Shane Bond in the slog overs hampered our progress. These are two world-class personnel, who have been the lynchpin of our batting and bowling, respectively. We tried very hard to fill the gaps their absence left, but, sadly, we fell short.
Towards the end of the league stage, our concentration was a little affected by news of the Pakistan tour, some players opting out, and, later, news of threats emanating from Pakistan. We have some difficult memories of what happened there the last time we went, and the thought of touring that part of the world once again did affect some of the guys. While this is not an excuse for a professional side to offer, we are human and it did have an impact.
I will not be part of the Pakistan tour, if it happens, owing to my strained abdominal muscle. I am travelling back today itself, but the other guys are waiting around in Mumbai till the 19th to hear the final decision from New Zealand Cricket. Our board is in constant touch with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ICC on the issue, and nothing has been decided so far.
(Gameplan)
Photograph: Getty Images
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