Many had predicted that the BCCI committed a grave folly by sending a team to South Africa on the eve of the World Cup. Such an argument does have merit. It was based on India?s past record in South Africa, which, if anything, hardly inspires confidence. Never in five previous attempts did India manage to come back unscathed from a Test series in South Africa and on all previous visits, the one-day series was comprehensively dominated by the home team. Not in 2010-11 however. This time round, India almost won the Test series, but for a Herculean effort by Kallis and a timely half century by Boucher, rescuing South Africa from a precarious 6-130 at Capetown. And as I write, India is up 2-1 in the one-day series after losing the first match by a whopping 135 runs at Kingsmead in Durban.
The story of the tour so far are the multiple Indian comebacks. Every time fans feared a repeat of the past, Dhoni?s team proved such anxiety is a false alarm and that this team has the resolve and determination to bounce back from any situation. Even if India loses the series 2-3 from here on, they have done enough to show the world that they go into the World Cup as one of the favourites. Without four first team players, they have managed to engage South Africa in one of the fiercest bilateral contests of recent times. To add to this achievement, the fact that three of the four players missing are heavyweights and the bench strength India can now boast of becomes evident. If Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambhir are all fit for the World Cup, as is expected, it will take something extraordinary to beat this Indian side.
Another standout feature of the series is the way the Indians have pulled off some stunning catches. India was always a safe catching team, but to see the kind of agility currently visible in South Africa is beyond expectation. Virat Kohli, in sublime form with the bat, has just been unbelievable on the field. With Kohli and Raina patrolling both sides of the wicket during the World Cup, India will, like many other sides, save a few valuable runs on the field.
That the team did not give up after South Africa had reached 4-152 at Johannesburg chasing 190 speaks volumes of the players? tenacity. Unlike Indian teams of the past, this team, despite being 8-187 against the likes of Steyn and Morkel, did not give up while chasing 221. Not once while stitching the match winning 26 run partnership did Harbhajan and Zaheer look under-confident. Rather, every time Zaheer missed a ball and Harbhajan walked down the track, India?s pace spearhead put his hand up, reassuring his better batting partner. This Indian side, more than anything else, has made winning a habit. They have accustomed themselves to the taste of victory. And given that they have won from adverse situations for over two years now, the boys are confident that nothing is beyond them.
The question that is often being asked is, which other team is capable of upsetting the Indian applecart? While Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa are all formidable opponents, it is the pressure of playing in home conditions that poses the biggest threat for the Indians. Every slight alarm will be interpreted as doomsday and fans will settle for nothing but a cup win from Dhoni and team. Listening day in and out that they are the favourites and they are carrying the hopes of a billion plus can truly be intimidating. It is this pressure from within that the Indians need to come to terms with. And it is here experience becomes invaluable. With the likes of Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Zaheer and Harbhajan on the side, skipper Dhoni has some of the best minds to help him in situations of adversity. And the composure the skipper has shown helps us believe they will not allow the pressure of home conditions to get to them.
Finally, some have expressed apprehension over the injuries the Indians have sustained in recent months, not allowing Dhoni to field his best team for over a year now. Analysis reveals that every international side is nursing similar injury concerns. South Africa, for example, is without Kallis. For Australia, Hussey is in doubt of missing the World Cup, while Tait and Lee have just made comebacks into international cricket. For England, Broad is recuperating from the injury he suffered during the Ashes and Anderson is nursing a niggle. Such are the rigours of international cricket that injuries are fast becoming part of a players? life. At the same time, modern sports medicine and the process of rehab are so vastly improved that players can come out fit much quicker than before.
All said and done, it must be acknowledged that this team gives us hope. Hope it can rewrite the record of no team being able to win the cup on home soil.
?The writer is a sports historian