At the start of the ongoing India-Pakistan test series there was enormous pressure and a little temptation among selectors and typical media speculation surrounding the inclusion of in-form Yuvraj Singh in the playing eleven. And with two days into the second test, the two men under the cloud Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman proved their worth for yet another time in the test team with some brilliant and breadth taking stroke play displaying authority on the field.
Sourav Ganguly before the second test said, it was his dream to score a century in his home ground. The stage was perfectly set for ‘the Prince of Kolkata’ with India already scoring 300 runs as he walked in. with less than an hour to go on the first day’s play, he played with caution and the next morning he made his presence felt with some trademark dada drives- Godly! - on the off-side. He wasn’t reluctant to put his bat to the bouncers as he pulled Shoaib Akthar and Mohmmad Sami for boundaries with ease.
If Sourav was ‘Son of the soil’, on the other end partnering him for the fifth wicket was VVS Laxman once again proved that he is ‘Lord of Eden Gardens’ as one of the banners in stands claimed. It is always a delight to watch Laxman playing his ‘very very special’ on drive against the leg spin and this time Dainsh Kaneria fell victim to his beautiful wrist work. The duo put on 163 run stand before Ganguly sacrificed his wicket trying to hit his trademark lofted six over long on to satisfy his everlasting fans who have undefined love for him.
Before all this the stage belonged to the Mumbai boy, well if your guess is Sachin Tendulkar it’s not. But it was Wasim Jaffer who stole the show on first day with elegant stroke play including 34 hits to the fence filled with attractive cuts and pulls and gorgeous drives on both sides. The flow of runs was never in question when he was at crease as he maintained a 100% testimony in punishing the loose balls for fours. Playing around him was Rahul Dravid putting on 136 runs for second wicket and Sachin Tendulkar adding 175 for the third wicket taking India to a position of strength.
The first day of second test was one of those rare occasions where Sachin Tendulkar when in full form was overshadowed by relatively inexperienced Jaffer. However, it was a pleasure to watch Indian batting dictating terms to the opposition.
If the exhibition at Kolkata is dominant, in Delhi it was efficient enough to make amends. Though few big names in the Indian batting failed in the first innings, Laxman and Dhoni took India to safety before captain Kumble along with the Hydrabadi made sure India take some sizeable lead in the first innings. Laxman silenced his critic with a help of patient and unbeaten 72 runs. After a deadly display by Indian bowlers led by skipper Anil Kumble, Wasim Jaffer provided India with a good start chasing a moderate total followed by Tendulkar and Ganguly show who did good for themselves by scoring handful of runs. Ganguly calmed the nerves in the dressing room by some aggressive batting taking India closer to victory before stumps on the fourth day.
As Test captain for the first time Anil Kumble draw lot of praise from the former captains including the ones in the team. His move to bring Sourav Ganguly to bowl with the new ball on fourth day morning was a master stroke fetching him two wickets. He shuffled the bowlers well as one would expect from him and his field placements were accurate.
And for Yuvraj, he might be at the form of his life but it is certain that it is not enough to open the doors in the playing XI. And the scenario was rightly articulated by Anil Kumble. "I think Laxman's knock was very crucial considering the circumstances. He's a fantastic player and his partnership with Dhoni was very critical for us. I don't know why there is always a sword hanging over his head. It's only a perception from those not within the dressing room. We [the team] know what quality he brings in and his role in the team is very crucial," Kumble said in a press conference in Delhi. Yuvraj has to wait a little longer.
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