08 April,2009 01:00 PM IST | | WELLINGTON
To begin with, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat on and on yesterday morning' the fourth day of the Test - defied all logic, given the forecast of rain today, the last day of the Test.
In doing so, India unnecessarily occupied the crease for 75 precious minutes in the first session of play, while setting the New Zealand batsmen an improbable target of 617 runs for victory in an unlikely 168 overs.
To make matters worse, bad light 'a distinct possibility in view of the weather pattern in cold and windy Wellington since the Test started' stopped play at the final drinks break, depriving the rampaging Indian bowlers, the scent of victory in their nostrils, of at least 30 overs of bowling at the besieged home side batsmen.
Moreover, with the home side 84 for four (after Rahul Dravid had taken his record breaking 184th Test catch), the Indian players, with the irrepressible Harbhajan Singh as cheerleader, resorted to tomfoolery of the most incomprehensible kind.
The antics were bewildering, with the Indian fieldsmen, Dhoni included, needlessly cheering and clapping while Munaf Patel bowled wide to a packed (8-1) off-side field. It appeared to be a case of taking the mickey, which could ultimately backfire on the Indian side's chances today of grinding the home side in the dust with a 2-0, instead of a 1-0 series victory.
Even though the series had been secured by the Indian team at this stage of the match, following the first Test win, the tactics of the Indians have come in for severe criticism from former New Zealand Test players and the media, not to mention both Indian and non-Indian fans, who braved the chilly weather and paid top dollar to see a serious contest.
The Indians' unsporting behaviour showed unconcern, if not outright disrespect, for the fans.
The Indian tactics seems to havegone hopelessly awry when Ross Taylor, who went on to score a fighting century and James Franklin resolutely defied the Indian attack this morning before the Kiwis plummeted to 254 for seven at Mid Day press time, with Sachin Tendulkar claiming two desperately needed wickets.
But the sky was overcast and rains a distinct possibility.
Speaking to the media afteryesetrday's day's play, Yuvraj Singh said superciliously: 'Rain is always predicted, sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Fingers crossed we should get enough overs tomorrow.'
Asked to comment on India's mind-boggling defensive tactics, weather prophet Yuvraj passed on the buck to the captain.
"That question you have to ask the captain," he said. "I was thinking... when you start going for runs you want to try and contain the batsmen for a while. We tried to make them play to our strengths. Maybe we were trying that," a clueless Yuvraj informed bemused mediapersons.
New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum said he was amazed by India's tactics in the field and their late declaration.
'No, I didn't work out their strategy after tea or this morning,' McCullum said.
He added that New Zealand were grateful to stay in the field in the morning session as India rattled up 434 for seven before declaring.
New Zealand were 254 for seven at lunch with their fans' gaze Heavenwards in hopes of a downpour that will wash out play for the rest of the day and deny India an otherwise well-deserved win..
Should that come to pass, it will be a sad reflection on the mindset of the Indian team (as contrasted with that of Australia and South Africa), because of which it never hope to top the world rankings.
