One-Day Test Ahead

It's a pity that India suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of cross-border 'friends', Pakistan, as the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore disappointed the home-team yet again. Not very often does Anil Kumble concede more than a hundred and fifty runs in a Test innings, with the wickets column giving a blank look. Not very often does Sachin Tendulkar seem to try hard to match Sunil Gavaskar's infamous 1975 World Cup innings of 36 not out in 60 overs. However, the Indian batting line-up often collapses, as happened this time round, when only Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble shone with the bat, with V.V.S. Laxman and Gautam Gambhir performing reasonably in their bid to salvage some form with the willow. Inzamam-ul-Haq will treasure the memories of his hundredth Test appearance - a Test series draw against India in India, and that too without the services of Shoaib Akhtar, is laudable. His 184 in the first day of this third and final Test set the tone of the match. With the one-dayers round the corner, Younis Khan's mature double hundred in the first innings and quickfire unbeaten half-century in the second, are ominous signs for India. Another threat is of course Shahid Afridi who is consistently blasting half centuries these days. However, with Virender Sehwag and Laxmipathy Balaji in blistering forms, India can certainly hope to send Pakistan packing in the ensuing one-dayers. Let's hope that Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan too do some justice to their awesome reputation against Pakistan. Wicketkeeper-batsman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni can be the surprize package.