Predictable Carnage

Yes, the title does refer to the carnage that began less than 24 hours ago in Indore. In fact, after watching the post match conference of the 3rd ODI between India and West Indies, I had a sense of deja-vu. Prior to the India v Bangladesh curtain raiser of the 2011 World Cup, Sehwag had made ominous pronouncements of a revenge game. He backed it up with a 175 that seriously threatened Sachin's 200*

When Sachin scored his maiden ODI double ton, every Indian and most cricket fans would have told you that the most likely batsman to dislodge Sachin from the top of the highest ODI innings list was the Nawab of Najafgarh. I thought Sehwag would do it in that game against Bangladesh. It is due to this obvious sense of inevitability that Sehwag's double ton yesterday was received with mostly acceptance than surprise. That holy list of highest ODI innings looks more and more like an Indian batting line up!!

Personally, after watching Sehwag's honest and determined words at the post match presentation of the 3rd ODI, I strongly felt West Indies had it coming. Sehwag and India were smarting the end of India's unbeaten run in home ODIs and Sehwag was on the money in suggesting that a non-performing top order is eventually going to cost a match no matter how many rescue acts the middle order pulls off.

Well, the West Indies did have it coming but they did not help themselves by being shoddy on the field. Sehwag does have a deflating effect on the opposition and weak opposition tend to fall apart in the field when Sehwag summons his 'kolaveri'!!

Sehwag on fire seems to induce panic, then mistakes in the fielding and finally a sense of resignation. Once Sehwag had gotten his hundred, the West Indies seemed to be resigned to the fact that a mammoth score was on and it was pointless to resist. It is only this mental disintegration that could possibly explain Sammy's dolly drop when Sehwag was on 171. Credit must be given to the West Indian bowlers though - they did not give up and kept creating chances and running in hard but then when you are in deep, a meter or a mile more do not matter.

Undoubtedly, Sehwag and Gambhir's return to form augurs well for India's tour down under. It sets up a mouth watering contest and yet again, the Indian contingent, especially the bowlers are heading for a very important tour, quite unprepared. Without the requisite conditioning, expect a further spate of injuries to the already bare Indian fast bowling cupboard!! With Sehwag and Gambhir finding their old touch, the batting seems all set to click but the bowling may yet let India down.

Whatever happens, I hope the tour begins with Sachin's ton of tons on Boxing Day!!