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India the new world cricketing force

Srian OBEYESEKERE

Indian cricket snowballing into a crestwave of success under Mahendra Singh Dhoni to a point the sub continent nation cricketers are breathing down Australia and South Africa for the world No. 1 spot in effect, is much to do with their wonder captain.

Dhoni has risen from a Mr. Nobody to be the most envied captain in world cricket for injecting into his team what had been a lacking motivating spirit that had bugged his country's cricket.

For one who started as a novice, known only for an impulsive dash to his batting and glove work like any other wicket-keeper who won the admiration and confidence of the Indian cricketing establishment for some early success, recent achievements like crushing Australia and England in home ODI and Test series exchanges on the back of which a historic overseas Test series triumph over New Zealand in 41 years has spiralled Dhoni into a singular status quo where he must be termed the undisputed No.1 captain in the world in all forms of the game. For, he has added to his feather of leading India to the inaugural World Twenty20 championship title but an year ago to a decoration of some telling ODI and Test conquests that have tanned his image into superlative stuff.

If those early successes when he took over the Indian ODI captaincy some two years ago that gradually insulated him after a stint here and there in as a stand in captain in the Test version too, recent triumphs that broke the back of Australia and England and New Zealand with it must certainly draw central interest around an Indian team that is perhaps after Kapil Dev's world cup success in the 1980s basking in the aura of playing anywhere in the world and winning; a demanding factor that had long eluded the Indians.

In this sudden thrust to the forefront in the plain hard fact that India have forged ahead is the reality that Dhoni was able to crush New Zealand in their own backyard signalling the arrival of a reborn Indian cricketing entity; their overall performance in the 3-match series measuring upto much more than their 1-0 victory margin suggests having had the Kiwis on bended knees in the final Test match too where victory just eluded them by a thread.

Today, the Indian batting has significantly professionally bloomed with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambir, Yuvraj Singh, V.V.Laxman and even little master Sachin Tendulkar in a sort of sheet anchor role in rediscovering lost nip, and the bowling department in a long time finding the blend that delivers largely because of Dhoni's ability in being able to instill in the team the type of motivation that knits a team into an allround winning component.

But above all, Dhoni's strong point has been that he has as much as his captaincy thrown equally solid weight around the team as a consistent performer with the bat; something that he has been able to do whether the team is in a strong or bad position that has resulted in India consolidating their grip on matches.

If Dhoni continues in this vein which he should going by his young age and form and ability to read the game astutely, India could be the emerging force in world cricket; not only for the upcoming World Twenty20 championship when they defend their title, but also for the 2011 world cup.