Romit Mehta


Smells of Aussies

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India notched up yet another win. Yet another chase. And yet again, the captain played a great innings.

But who was there at the end? Yea, the same Mohammad Kaif who was totally out of form for a long long time. He stayed till the end and ensured the win. And that is what brings the thought to my head that this India one day team smells so much like the Aussie team. Aussie out-of-form batsmen somehow choose the best times to strike form - match-winning innings, quick burst of wickets at the top of the innings, masterful spell in the middle, etc.

Kaif has been really short of runs of late. He was low on confidence and a lot of people, me included, were asking why is he still in the XI? He chose the moment right to come back to form - India needing a win to start the series strong, and even though they did not seem to be in trouble really, they still needed to have someone like him be there and keep one end held up, specially after Dravid departed.

In any case, the juggernaut rolls on. Knock on wood.